Systems and methods for adjusting a contour of a vehicle based on a protrusion

• US 9,488,482 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Chin, Hon Wah, Duncan, William D., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US14/015,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

A system for informing a navigation system of a vehicle of a protrusion includes a sensor and a processing circuit. The sensor is configured to generate sensor data based on a position of cargo. The processing circuit is configured to determine a contour of the vehicle, detect protruding cargo extending outside the contour of the vehicle, where detecting the protruding cargo is based on the sensor data and the contour, and notify the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo.

Claims

1. A system for informing a navigation system of a vehicle of a protrusion, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate sensor data based on a position of cargo; and

a processing circuit configured to;

determine a contour of the vehicle;

detect protruding cargo extending outside the contour of the vehicle, wherein detecting the protruding cargo is based on the sensor data and the contour; and

notify the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo;

wherein the protruding cargo includes an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the protruding cargo includes a protruding extremity of the occupant, wherein detecting the protruding cargo is based on information related to skeletal anatomy; and

wherein detecting the protruding cargo comprises estimating the protruding extremity based on the skeletal anatomy and a non-protruding portion of the occupant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate an updated contour of the vehicle based on the protruding cargo, and wherein notifying the navigation system of the vehicle of the protruding cargo includes notifying the navigation system of the updated contour.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit data related to the protruding cargo and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to transmit the updated contour to an external device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a camera.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein detecting the protruding cargo includes analyzing imaging data generated by the camera.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a radar device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the contour of the vehicle is determined based on the sensor data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the skeletal anatomy is based on a model of the occupant or a model of an average human.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor configured to generate pressure data at a particular location of the vehicle, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to detect the non-protruding portion of the occupant based on the pressure data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a capacitive sensor configured to generate touch data at a particular location of the vehicle, and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to detect the non-protruding portion of the occupant based on the touch data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to infer a potential dynamic protrusion of the cargo, and wherein detecting the protruding cargo is further based on the inferred potential dynamic protrusion.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein detecting the protruding cargo includes determining an amount of protrusion of the protruding cargo.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an RFID sensor, and wherein at least one RFID tag is coupled to the cargo.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the RFID sensor is a first RFID sensor, wherein the sensor further includes a second RFID sensor, and wherein detecting the protruding cargo is further based on a distance of the RFID tag from the first and second RFID sensors.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor system coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the optical sensor system is configured to generate information related to objects crossing an optical path of the optical sensor system, and wherein detecting the protruding cargo is further based on the information from the optical sensor system related to objects crossing the optical path.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to provide an input to the processing circuit, wherein the input is related to a dimension of the cargo, and wherein detecting the protruding cargo is further based on the input.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the contour includes a trailer of the vehicle, and wherein the cargo is a load of the trailer.