Systems and methods for driving risk index estimation

• US 9,791,864 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lei, Oliver, Murray, Allen R., Orris, David Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US15/066,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20170261990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 701 297, 701 36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13

Abstract

A vehicle implements driving risk estimation. The vehicle includes a processor and a program stored in memory. The vehicle calculates a first risk estimation based on first vehicle dynamics data, and second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation received from a second proximate vehicle. The vehicle also, in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a risk threshold, determines a risk reduction action, and automatically instructs a vehicle control unit to implement the risk reduction action.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a processor;

a program stored in memory configured to;

calculate a first risk estimation based on;

dynamics data of the vehicle, and

second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation received from a second proximate vehicle;

in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a risk threshold;

determine a risk reduction action; and

instructing a vehicle control unit to automatically implement the risk reduction action.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to broadcast the first risk estimation based via direct short range communication.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to obtain the first vehicle dynamics data from at least one of sensors and electronic control units of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to obtain the second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation from the second vehicle via direct short range communication.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the risk threshold is a second risk threshold;

and wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to, in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a first risk threshold lower than the second threshold;

determine a recommendation that, when implemented, reduces the first risk estimation of the vehicle; and

present the recommendation via an infotainment head unit.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to display the recommendation on at least one of a dashboard display, a center console display or a heads up display.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the program is configured to cause the vehicle to:

categorize the first risk estimation into one of a high risk category, a medium risk category, or a low risk category; and

present an at least one of a plurality of audio indicators or a plurality of visual indicators based on the category to which the first risk estimation is categorized.

8. A vehicle control method comprising:

calculating, via a processor of a first vehicle, a first risk estimation based on (i) first vehicle dynamics data from the first vehicle, and (ii) a second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation received from a second vehicle proximate the first vehicle;

in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a risk threshold;

determining an action to reduce the first risk estimation; and

instructing the first vehicle to implement the action.

9. The vehicle control method of claim 8, including broadcasting the first risk estimation based via direct short range communication.

10. The vehicle control method of claim 8, including obtaining the first vehicle dynamics data from at least one of sensors and electronic control units of the first vehicle.

11. The vehicle control method of claim 8, including obtaining the second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation from the second vehicle via direct short range communication.

12. The vehicle control method of claim 8, wherein the risk threshold is a second risk threshold;

and

in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a first risk threshold lower than the second threshold;

determining a recommendation that, when implemented, reduces the first risk estimation of the first vehicle; and

presenting the recommendation via an infotainment head unit.

13. The vehicle control method of claim 12, wherein presenting the recommendation includes displaying the recommendation on at least one of a dashboard display, a center console display or a heads up display.

14. The vehicle control method of claim 8, including:

categorizing the first risk estimation into one of a high risk category, a medium risk category, or a low risk category; and

presenting an at least one of a plurality of audio indicators or a plurality of visual indicators based on the category to which the first risk estimation is categorized.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle to:

calculate a first risk estimation based on (i) first vehicle dynamics data from the vehicle, and (ii) a second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation received from a second vehicle proximate the vehicle;

in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a risk threshold;

determine an action to reduce the first risk estimation of the vehicle; and

automatically implement the action, via an electronic control unit, to the vehicle.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the vehicle to broadcast the first risk estimation based via direct short range communication.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the vehicle to obtain the second vehicle dynamics data and a second risk estimation via direct short range communication.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the risk threshold is a second risk threshold;

and wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the vehicle to, in response to the first risk estimation satisfying a first risk threshold lower than the second threshold;

determine a recommendation that, when implemented, reduces the first risk estimation of the vehicle; and

present the recommendation.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein to present the recommendation, the instructions, when executed, cause the vehicle to display the recommendation on at least one of a dashboard display, a center console display or a heads up display.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the vehicle to:

categorize the first risk estimation into one of a high risk category, a medium risk category, or a low risk category; and

present an at least one of a plurality of audio indicators or a plurality of visual indicators based on the category to which the first risk estimation is categorized.