Hazard mitigation for access to passenger vehicles

• US 10,586,448 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sholingar, Gautham, Jain, Jinesh J
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US16/000,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20190371171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/40 Photo, light or radio wave sensitive means, e.g. infrared sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0231 using optical position detecting means position-fixing by using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. optical position detecting means G01S5/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method for mitigating hazards to access to passenger vehicles. The method includes detecting, with one or more sensors, a hazardous condition in an area proximate a vehicle. A processor may calculate a safety metric corresponding to the hazardous condition and analyze the safety metric relative to a predetermined threshold. A vehicle occupant may be automatically notified of the hazardous condition in the event the safety metric satisfies the predetermined threshold. A corresponding system is also claimed herein.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, via at least one sensor, a hazardous condition in a pedestrian travel path external to and proximate a stationary vehicle;

calculating, via a processor, a safety metric corresponding to the hazardous condition;

analyzing, via the processor, the safety metric relative to a predetermined threshold; and

automatically notifying a vehicle occupant of the hazardous condition in the event the safety metric satisfies the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing, via the at least one sensor, an external environment of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, a camera sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a global navigation satellite system sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the area comprises a region substantially adjacent to at least one of a door and a trunk of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, via the processor, the hazardous condition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of rain, sleet, snow, ice, rocks, dirt, leaves, a spill, an oil leak, an uneven surface, a blocked surface, and an obstacle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the safety metric comprises assigning a score to the hazardous condition and cumulating the score for more than one hazardous condition.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the score in response to a position of the hazardous condition relative to a door of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically notifying the vehicle occupant comprises utilizing at least one of a heads-up display, a text message, an audible notification, and an email message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically repositioning the vehicle to avoid the hazardous condition.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

12. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions for execution on the at least one processor, the instructions causing the at least one processor to;

detect, via at least one sensor, a hazardous condition in a pedestrian travel path external to and proximate a stationary vehicle;

calculate a safety metric corresponding to the hazardous condition;

analyze the safety metric relative to a predetermined threshold; and

notify a vehicle occupant of the hazardous condition in the event the safety metric satisfies the predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to sense, via the at least one sensor, an external environment of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the area comprises a region substantially adjacent to at least one of a door and a trunk of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to identify the hazardous condition.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein calculating the safety metric comprises assigning a score to the hazardous condition and cumulating the score for more than one hazardous condition.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising adjusting the score in response to a position of the hazardous condition relative to a door of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein automatically notifying the vehicle occupant comprises at least one of a heads-up display, a text message, an audible notification, and an email message.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to automatically reposition the vehicle to avoid the hazardous condition.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.