Pre-collision assessment of potential collision severity for road vehicles

• US 8,321,092 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Browne, Alan L, Wood, Francis D, Altan, Osman D
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/204,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/46
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01088 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• 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 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data

Abstract

A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal.

Claims

1. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles, wherein input to the determining includes a rate of change of an estimated percentage chance of the potential collision occurring;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device comprising an airbag, seat belt extendible bumper, retractable bumper or knee bolster, or a combination thereof, on at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein input to the determining includes pre-collision sensor data collected by one or more pre-collision sensors.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-collision sensor data includes closing speed, range and position.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-collision sensor data includes one or more of closing speed, range, position, and angle of approach.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the pre-collision sensors provides a three hundred and sixty degree view around at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

6. The method claim 2 wherein the pre-collision sensors collect pre-collision sensor data by utilizing one or more of ultra wide-band radar, pulsed radar, continuous wave radar, near radar, far radar, near and far infrared, vision and image processing, short range sensors, mid range sensors, and long range sensors.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein input to the determining includes an estimated percentage chance of the potential collision occurring.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein input to the determining includes an estimated percentage chance of the potential collision occurring and a rate of change of the estimated percentage chance of the potential collision occurring.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to one or more of vehicle geographic position data, vehicle onboard sensor data, stored vehicle identification data, and pre-collision sensor data.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a command to set a control on an occupant protection device on the first vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value, said command responsive to the severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle; and

transmitting a command to set a control on an occupant protection device on the second vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value, said command responsive to the severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a command to deploy an occupant protection device on the first vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value, the command responsive to the severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a command to deploy an occupant protection device on the first vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value, said command responsive to the severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle; and

transmitting a command to deploy an occupant protection device on the second vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value, said command responsive to the severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle.

10. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to stored vehicle identification data comprising one or more of front bumper height, vehicle height, height of the vehicle center of gravity, frame height, and the load distribution that the vehicle would create on the face of a rigid barrier in a frontal impact, wherein the load distribution is determined based on a simulation or actually measured in a crash test;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

11. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to stored vehicle identification data comprising one or more of rear bumper height, vehicle height, height of the vehicle center of gravity, frame height, and the load distribution that the vehicle would create on the face of a rigid barrier in a rear impact, wherein the load distribution is determined based on a simulation or actually measured in a crash test;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

12. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to stored vehicle identification data comprising one or more of rocker height, door beam height, and lateral stiffness of the vehicle corresponding to an estimated bumper location of a striking vehicle, wherein the lateral stiffness is obtained through a simulation or actually measured in a crash test;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

13. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to vehicle onboard sensor data comprising one or more of tire inflation pressure, tire wear state, road friction, anti-lock brake system operation, vehicle stability enhancement system operation, braking pressure, amount of vehicle pitch and roll, amount of vehicle yaw, environmental data, engine status, and engine operation data;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

14. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

wherein the vehicle condition-defining signals are developed in response to vehicle onboard sensor data comprising one or more of a number of occupants, a number of belted occupants, a mass of occupants, and a loaded mass of vehicle;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.

17. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device on the first vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision, the command further responsive to one or more of driver position, driver size, driver weight, and driver seat belt buckle status.

18. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising:

determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles;

exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle;

predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal;

predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and

transmitting a command to an occupant protection device on the first vehicle when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision, the command further responsive to one or more of passenger position, passenger size, passenger weight, and passenger seat belt buckle status.