Vehicle collision avoidance system

• US 8,280,621 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, David, Pavlik, David Robert, Subramanian, Ramkumar, Coats, Robert Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US12/081,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 342 43- 51, 342 65- 66, 342/69, 342/76, 342/77, 342 94- 97, 342104-118, 342/126, 342/139, 342/146, 342147-158, 342/41, 342/455, 342/29, 342/70, 713324-340, 180/232, 280/777, 340/436, 340/3.41, 340/903, 340/961, 340/435, 345/958, 367/909, 398/36, 700/255
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/062 in which different colours are used
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A collision avoidance system for a machine is disclosed. The collision avoidance system has a first obstacle detection system. The first obstacle detection system is configured to detect a first obstacle and generate a corresponding first signal. Additionally, the collision avoidance system has an operator interface. The operator interface has a display configured to communicate visual information to an operator. The operator interface also has an input device configured to receive selections from the operator and generate a corresponding second signal. In addition, the collision avoidance system has a controller. The controller is in communication with the first obstacle detection system and the operator interface. The controller is configured to control the display to provide a first dangerous obstacle warning to the operator, based on the first signal. The controller is also configured to control the display to provide a second dangerous obstacle warning to the operator, based on the first and second signals.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system for a machine, comprising:

a first obstacle detection system configured to detect a first obstacle and generate a corresponding first signal;

an operator interface including;

a display configured to communicate visual information, the display being divided into at least a first portion and a second portion; and

an input device configured to receive operator selections and generate a corresponding second signal;

wherein a size of the second portion of the display is based on the second signal; and

a controller in communication with the first obstacle detection system and the operator interface, the controller configured to;

control the display to provide an obstacle warning based on the first signal; and

provide a second obstacle warning based on the existence of the second signal, wherein the second obstacle warning is configured to be separately distinguishable by an operator from the first obstacle warning.

2. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein a map is stored within a memory of the controller and includes a set of detection values, and the controller is configured to update the set of detection values, based on the first signal.

3. The collision avoidance system of claim 2, wherein the map further includes a set of criticality values, and provision of the first and second obstacle warnings is based on at least one of the set of detection values and the set of criticality values.

4. The collision avoidance system of claim 2, wherein a first portion of the display is controlled to communicate a visual representation of the map.

5. The collision avoidance system of claim 4, wherein provision of the first obstacle warning includes altering the visual representation of the map.

6. The collision avoidance system of claim 4, further including a first camera situated to capture images of a first blind spot of the machine and configured to generate a corresponding third signal, wherein:

the detection of the first obstacle is within the first blind spot;

the controller is in further communication with the first camera; and

the display is controlled, based further on the third signal.

7. The collision avoidance system of claim 6, wherein the second portion of the display is controlled to communicate images captured by the first camera.

8. The collision avoidance system of claim 6, further including a second obstacle detection system configured to detect a second obstacle within a second blind spot of the machine.

9. The collision avoidance system of claim 8, further including a second camera situated to capture images of the second blind spot and configured to generate a corresponding fourth signal, wherein the controller is in further communication with the second camera and controls the display, based further on the fourth signal.

10. The collision avoidance system of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the display is controlled to communicate a status of the collision avoidance system.

11. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein provision of the first obstacle warnings is based further on an attribute of the first obstacle.

12. The collision avoidance system of claim 11, wherein the attribute of the first obstacle is a size of the first obstacle.

13. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the display and the input device are a single integral component.

14. The collision avoidance system of claim 1, wherein the first obstacle warning is visual, and the second obstacle warning is audible.

15. A machine, comprising:

an operator station; and

a collision avoidance system including;

an obstacle detection system configured to detect an obstacle and generate a corresponding first signal;

an operator interface situated within the operator station and including;

a display configured to communicate visual information, the display being divided into at least a first portion and a second portion; and

an input device configured to receive an operator selection and generate a corresponding second signal; and

a controller in communication with the obstacle detection system and the operator interface, and configured to control the display to provide;

a first obstacle warning based on the first signal, the first obstacle warning being visual; and

a second obstacle warning based on the existence of the second signal, the second obstacle warning being audible.

16. A collision avoidance system for a machine, comprising:

a first obstacle detection system configured to detect a first obstacle and generate a corresponding first signal;

an operator interface including;

a display configured to communicate visual information; and

a touch screen or button associated with the display and configured to receive an operator selection, the touch screen or button configured to generate a corresponding second signal; and

a controller in communication with the first obstacle detection system and the operator interface, the controller being configured to;

control the display to provide a first obstacle warning based on the first signal;

determine if an operator selection has been received after provision of the first obstacle warning using the second signal; and

provide a second obstacle warning if no operator selection via the touch screen or button has been received after provision of the first obstacle warning.

17. The collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein a map is stored within a memory of the controller and includes a set of detection values, and the controller is configured to update the set of detection values, based on the first signal.

18. The collision avoidance system of claim 17, wherein the map further includes a set of criticality values, and provision of each of the first and second obstacle warnings is based on at least one of the set of detection values and the set of criticality values.

19. The collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein the display is divided into at least a first portion and a second portion, and a size of the second portion of the display is based on the second signal.

20. The collision avoidance system of claim 19, wherein the second portion of the display is controlled to communicate images captured by the first camera.

21. The collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein the display and the touch screen or button are a single integral component.

22. The collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein the second obstacle warning is configured to be separately distinguishable by an operator from the first obstacle warning.

23. The collision avoidance system of claim 22, wherein the first obstacle warning is visual, and the second obstacle warning is audible.

24. The collision avoidance system of claim 16, wherein the operator selection includes selecting a camera mode that provides an image of the obstacle.