System and method for estimating post-collision vehicular velocity changes
First Claim
1. A computer program product encoded in computer readable media, the computer program product comprising:
- first instructions, executable by a processor, for receiving input information regarding damaged vehicle components for at least one vehicle;
second instructions, executable by the processor, for categorizing damage zones with respect to the location of the bumper of a vehicle;
third instructions, executable by the processor, for categorizing at least one damaged vehicle component with respect to its location on the vehicle; and
fourth instructions, executable by the processor, for estimating change in the vehicle'"'"'s velocity as a result of a collision based on the damaged vehicle components information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that utilizes information relating to vehicle damage information including damaged vehicle area information, crush depth of the damaged areas information, and vehicle component-by-component damage information to estimate the relative velocities of vehicles involved in a collision. The change in velocity is estimated using a plurality of methods, and a determination is made as to which method provided a result that is likely to be more accurate, based on the damage information, and the types of vehicles involved. The results from each method may also be weighted and combined to provide a multi-method estimate of the closing velocity. The methods include using crash test data from one or more sources, estimating closing velocity based on the principals of conservation of momentum, and estimating closing velocity based on deformation energy resulting from the collision.
61 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer program product encoded in computer readable media, the computer program product comprising:
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first instructions, executable by a processor, for receiving input information regarding damaged vehicle components for at least one vehicle;
second instructions, executable by the processor, for categorizing damage zones with respect to the location of the bumper of a vehicle;
third instructions, executable by the processor, for categorizing at least one damaged vehicle component with respect to its location on the vehicle; and
fourth instructions, executable by the processor, for estimating change in the vehicle'"'"'s velocity as a result of a collision based on the damaged vehicle components information.
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2. A computer system comprising:
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a processor;
computer readable medium coupled to the processor;
first computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, for generating a first graphical user interface, wherein the first graphical user interface includes a first screen object representing a vehicle, a second screen object having data entry fields to allow entry of damaged vehicle components and repair/replace estimate information;
second computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, for generating a second graphical user interface, wherein the second graphical user interface includes a third screen object representing the vehicle, and a fourth screen object having data entry fields to allow entry of damaged vehicle components and visual damage information;
third computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, for rating damage severity of each vehicle component according to a set of predetermined rules;
fourth computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, to determine an overall damage rating for the vehicle based on rated damage to the vehicle components;
fifth computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, to compare the overall damage rating for the vehicle to a crash test vehicle having an overall rating based on component damage rates in accordance with the set of rules; and
sixth computer code, encoded in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor, for estimating change in the vehicle'"'"'s velocity as a result of a collision, the change in the vehicle'"'"'s velocity being based on the damaged vehicle components and the component damage ratings.
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3. A computer-implemented method for estimating the change in velocity of a vehicle as a result of a collision, the method comprising:
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(a) acquiring information regarding damaged components of at least one vehicle;
(b) assigning a damage rating to the at least one vehicle;
(c) determining whether to utilize crash test data for a first estimate of the change in velocity for the at least one vehicle based at least partially on the damage rating;
(d) determining a second estimate of the change in velocity for the at least one vehicle based on conservation of momentum;
(e) determining a third estimate of the change in velocity for the at least one vehicle based on deformation energy; and
(f) determining a final estimate of the change in velocity for the at least one vehicle based on at least one of the first, second, and third estimates of the change in velocity. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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receiving a damage rating for a subject vehicle, said damage rating comprising one of a plurality of preselected levels;
comparing said damage rating to a crash test damage rating to determine compliance with a predetermined rule, said crash test damage rating associated with a crash test vehicle related to said subject vehicle; and
estimating a change in velocity of said subject vehicle using data from said crash test vehicle if said comparing indicates compliance with said predetermined rule. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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calculating a first change in velocity for a first vehicle using a first crash test change in velocity for a second vehicle, said first and second vehicles being involved in a collision;
calculating a second change in velocity for said second vehicle using a second crash test change in velocity for said first vehicle;
determining which of said first change in velocity and said second change in velocity are in closer agreement with said second crash test change in velocity and said first crash test change in velocity, respectively; and
selecting one of said first crash test change in velocity and said second crash test change in velocity for further processing based on which is in said closer agreement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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obtaining damage information from a first vehicle and a second vehicle, said first vehicle and said second vehicle involved in a collision;
estimating deformation energy absorbed by said first and second vehicles during said collision based on said damage information;
estimating principal forces on said first and second vehicles during said collision based on stiffness parameters and crush depth for each of said first and second vehicles;
estimating a coefficient of restitution for said collision;
estimating a closing velocity between said first vehicle and said second vehicle; and
determining a change in velocity for said first vehicle and said second vehicle based upon said coefficient of restitution and said closing velocity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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receiving a damage rating for a subject vehicle;
comparing said damage rating to a plurality of crash test damage ratings to determine compliance with at least one predetermined rule, said crash test damage ratings associated with crash test vehicles related to said subject vehicle; and
estimating a change in velocity of said subject vehicle using data from at least one of said crash test vehicles if said comparing indicates compliance with said at least one predetermined rule. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification