Computer assisted driving of vehicles

• US 7,513,508 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Romeo Fernando Malit
• Original Assignee: Romeo Fernando Malit
• Inventors: Malit, Romeo Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/861,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.518, 701/209
• US Class Current: 280/5.518
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/00 Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/821 Uneven, rough road sensing affecting vehicle body vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/824 Travel path sensing; Track monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/91 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/90 other signal treatment means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/704 predicting unorthodox driving conditions for safe or optimal driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/98 Intelligent Transportation System or Bus [IDB]

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for computer assisted driving of vehicles. The system disclosed herein provides an array of sensors positioned in the vehicles at strategic points for capturing vibrations and sound induced, when the vehicles move over pavement surfaces marked with predefined patterns of peaks and troughs. The sensors further measure frequencies of these vibrations. An onboard computer on the vehicle matches the captured frequencies and sound against pre-specified frequencies to obtain unique frequency signatures for the segment of the pavement traversed by the vehicle. Navigational data and geographical data associated with the unique frequency signature are used to provide assistance in driving of vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for computer-assisted driving of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

marking pavement surfaces with predefined patterns of peaks and troughs, whereby movement of said vehicle over said pavement surfaces produce vibrations in the vehicle;

sensing and measuring frequencies of said vibrations when the vehicle traverses different segments of the pavement;

determining the segment of the pavement traversed by the vehicle by matching said frequencies with pre-specified frequencies for said segment traversed;

identifying navigational data and geographical data associated with said segment traversed; and

directing an onboard computer to assist driving of the vehicle based on said navigational data and said geographical data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard computer creates self conditioning algorithms to adapt to deviations in the frequencies of said vibrations due to irregularities in said predefined patterns caused from debris and clutter on the pavement surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibrations are sensed and measured by an instrument selected from the group comprising an array of sensors, vibration transducers, acoustic sensors, and optical emitter/receivers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an array of sensors are positioned near suspension systems of the vehicle for maximum vibrations input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sensing and measuring frequencies of vibrations comprises parallel processing of frequencies captured concurrently by the array of sensors to obtain higher resolution frequencies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard computer is one of a stand-alone computing device, a connected device, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, and a wireless computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigational data and the geographic data comprise information on facilities, events, warning signs, and navigational information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information on warning signs provide alerts to a driver of hazards ahead by synchronizing information obtained from road workers and appropriate agencies using the onboard computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information on facilities and events is rendered through interactive advertisements of goods and services using interactive displays, and by streaming audio-video content onto the onboard computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of marking the pavement further comprises marking the pavement surfaces using predefined patterns of selectively non-visible paint or ink, wherein optical emitters/receivers positioned on the vehicle sense and capture unique signatures of the segment of pavement traversed by the vehicle from said predefined patterns of the selectively non-visible paint or ink.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selectively non-visible paint or ink comprises ultraviolet fluorescent materials, infrared fluorescent materials, and optical paint or ink.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said optical emitters/receivers sense and capture unique signatures by illuminating the predefined patterns of selectively non-visible paint or ink on the pavement surfaces using a plurality of sources of illumination to capture the reflected beams, wherein said plurality of sources of illumination includes laser and light emitting diode sources.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard computer executes destination procedures for providing route planning options to a driver of the vehicle, wherein said driver obtains route information by entering information of a desired destination to the onboard computer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the navigational data comprises distance predictions between different locations.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assisting driving based on navigational data comprises providing interactive road and pedestrian behaviors to a driver of the vehicle by determining changes in road conditions that exist on a travel route of the driver.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical data is obtained using global positioning system locators, wherein said global positioning system locators include a precision map of a road.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of assisting driving further comprises adjusting shocks and suspensions of the vehicle based on data of road conditions.

18. A method for computer-assisted driving of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

marking pavement surfaces with predefined patterns of peaks and troughs, whereby tires of the vehicle emit sound characteristic of a segment of the pavement traversed by the vehicle;

sensing and measuring frequencies of the sound emitted when the vehicle traverses said segment;

determining the segment traversed by the vehicle by matching said measured frequencies with pre-specified frequencies for different segments of the pavement;

identifying navigational data and geographical data associated with said segment traversed; and

directing an onboard computer to assist driving of the vehicles based on said navigational data and said geographical data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle has an array of sensors selected from a group comprising acoustic sensors and optical emitter/receivers.

20. A method for computer-assisted driving of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

marking pavement surfaces with predefined patterns of peaks and troughs, whereby movement of said vehicle over said pavement surfaces produce vibrations in the vehicle, and whereby tires emit sound characteristic of a segment of the pavement traversed;

sensing and measuring the frequencies of said vibrations and the frequencies of said sound when the vehicle traverses a segment of the pavement;

determining the segment of the pavement traversed by the vehicle by matching said vibration frequencies and said sound frequencies with pre-specified vibration and sound frequencies respectively for the segment of the pavement traversed;

parallel processing the information from the vibration frequencies and the sound frequencies to obtain higher resolution frequency identification of the segment of pavement traversed;

identifying navigational data and geographical data associated with said frequency identification; and

directing an onboard computer to assist driving of the vehicle based on said navigational data and said geographical data.

21. A system for computer-assisted driving of vehicles comprising:

an array of sensors positioned on said vehicles for sensing vibrations produced due to movement of the vehicles over predefined patterns of peaks and troughs on pavement surfaces, wherein said sensors capture and measure frequency of the vibrations; and

an onboard computer for providing navigational data and geographical data for said computer-assisted driving of the vehicles by matching said frequency with pre-specified frequencies, wherein said pre specified frequencies are associated with different segments of said pavement surfaces, said onboard computer comprising;

a database for storing said pre-specified frequencies, the navigational data, and the geographical data.