EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES

• US 20180053411A1
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Wieskamp, Jonathan L., Hedges, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US15/241,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00

Abstract

An emergency communication system for automated-vehicles includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver is used to communicate messages from and to an automated-vehicle that is classified as a non-emergency-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the transceiver. The controller is configured to receive a request for an emergency-certification from the automated-vehicle via the transceiver, determine when a circumstance exists that justifies the request, and grant the request when the circumstance exists. When the request is granted, the automated-vehicle is authorized to operate in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.

Claims

1. An emergency communication system for automated-vehicles, said system comprising:

a transceiver used to communicate messages from and to an automated-vehicle that is classified as a non-emergency-vehicle;

a controller in communication with the transceiver, said controller configured to receive a request for an emergency-certification from the automated-vehicle via the transceiver, determine when a circumstance exists that justifies the request, and grant the request when the circumstance exists, whereby the automated-vehicle is authorized to operate in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to demand traffic-signal-priority.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to ignore a traffic-signal directed toward the automated-vehicle when the traffic-signal is red.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to exceed a speed-limit.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to inform other vehicles that the automated vehicle is operating in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the automated vehicle is equipped with an emergency-notification-device, and the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to activate the emergency-notification-device.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the emergency-certification expires when the automated-vehicle arrives at a predetermined destination.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the predetermined destination is a hospital.