Automated vehicle control and guidance based on real-time blind corner navigational analysis

• US 9,983,013 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Krunic, Veljko, Chintakindi, Sunil, Gibson, Timothy W., Hayes, Howard, Kumar, Surender
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US15/205,046
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• 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 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• 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: G06F 18/2415 based on parametric or probabilistic models, e.g. based on likelihood ratio or false acceptance rate versus a false rejection rate
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

Methods, computer-readable media, systems and apparatuses for determining a blind corner navigational score based on real-time or near real-time navigational analysis using sensor data, digital image data, and a map database are discussed. In some arrangements, detection of a blind sensor may be performing using sensor data, digital image data, and navigational data from a map database system. In at least some arrangements, a warning signal or a vehicle control signal may be transmitted to a vehicle in response to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a threshold. In at least some arrangements, route correction and/or route modification based on an upcoming blind corner may be performed if a blind corner navigational score is above a threshold.

Claims

1. A blind corner navigation system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the

at least one processor, cause the blind corner navigation system to;

receive predefined navigational data from a map database system;

process the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;

receive dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;

process the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;

determine whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

2. The blind corner navigation system of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

3. The blind corner navigation system of claim 2, wherein processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

4. The blind corner navigation system of claim 3, wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a location of a landmark.

5. The blind corner navigation system of claim 4, wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.

6. The blind corner navigation system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle comprises:

responsive to determining that the blind corner navigational score is above a second threshold, transmitting a first audio signal to the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that the blind corner navigational score is above a third threshold, transmitting a first vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

7. The blind corner navigation system of claim 6, wherein the first vehicle control signal is associated with a vehicle control event that is adjusted based on a response time of the vehicle.

8. The blind corner navigational system of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is initially determined based on a driving profile of a driver of the vehicle and is dynamically modified based on weather conditions.

9. The blind corner navigational system of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is dynamically modified based on a condition of a road on which the vehicle is currently located.

10. A blind corner navigation system, comprising:

a blind corner navigation server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the blind corner navigation server to;

receive predefined navigational data from a map database system;

process the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;

receive dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;

process the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;

determine whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting a warning signal to the vehicle; and

an on-board vehicle computing device associated with the vehicle, the on-board vehicle computing device comprising;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the on-board vehicle computing device to;

receive, from the blind corner navigation server, the warning signal; and

provide, via a display of the on-board vehicle computing device, an audio or video message associated with the warning signal.

11. The blind corner navigation system of claim 10, wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

12. The blind corner navigation system of claim 11, wherein the one or more digital images are transmitted in real-time.

13. The blind corner navigation system of claim 11, wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

14. The blind corner navigation system of claim 13, wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a landmark.

15. The blind corner navigation system of claim 14, wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.

16. A method of determining a blind corner navigational score, comprising:

receiving predefined navigational data from a map database system;

processing the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;

receiving dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;

processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;

determining whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and

responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a location of a landmark.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.