Vehicle obstruction detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- recording, by a processor of a data acquisition device coupled with a vehicle, a plurality of measurements while the vehicle is traveling through a geographic area, the plurality of measurements including a velocity of the vehicle, and positions relative to the vehicle of a plurality of objects in the geographic area;
determining, by the processor, a path of the vehicle;
detecting, by the processor, an obstruction in the path, wherein the obstruction is an object of the plurality of objects;
identifying, by the processor, a minimum clearance height for the obstruction;
establishing, by the processor as a function of the velocity of the vehicle and positions of the obstruction relative to the vehicle, that the obstruction is a stationary obstruction;
identifying, by the processor, a first data acquisition device height and a second data acquisition device height for the data acquisition device;
lowering, automatically, the data acquisition device from the first data acquisition device height to the second data acquisition device height when the minimum clearance height is lower than the first data acquisition device height and higher than the second acquisition device height andgenerating, by the processor, an alternative route for the vehicle when the minimum clearance height is lower than the second acquisition device height.
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Abstract
Obstructions in a path of a vehicle may be determined by recording a plurality of measurements while the vehicle is traveling through a geographic area. The plurality of measurements may involve a velocity of the vehicle, positions relative to the vehicle of a plurality of objects in the geographic area. Also, a path of a vehicle may be determined. An obstruction in the path may be detected as an object of the plurality of objects that is in the path. Also, the obstruction may be determined to be a stationary obstruction as a function of the velocity of the vehicle and multiple positions of the obstruction relative to the vehicle measured over time.
56 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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recording, by a processor of a data acquisition device coupled with a vehicle, a plurality of measurements while the vehicle is traveling through a geographic area, the plurality of measurements including a velocity of the vehicle, and positions relative to the vehicle of a plurality of objects in the geographic area; determining, by the processor, a path of the vehicle; detecting, by the processor, an obstruction in the path, wherein the obstruction is an object of the plurality of objects; identifying, by the processor, a minimum clearance height for the obstruction; establishing, by the processor as a function of the velocity of the vehicle and positions of the obstruction relative to the vehicle, that the obstruction is a stationary obstruction; identifying, by the processor, a first data acquisition device height and a second data acquisition device height for the data acquisition device; lowering, automatically, the data acquisition device from the first data acquisition device height to the second data acquisition device height when the minimum clearance height is lower than the first data acquisition device height and higher than the second acquisition device height and generating, by the processor, an alternative route for the vehicle when the minimum clearance height is lower than the second acquisition device height. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a data acquisition device; at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code and operable to store data indicative of locations of objects relative to a vehicle and velocity of the vehicle; and a lowering actuator configured to automatically lower the apparatus; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to; record by the data acquisition device, a plurality of measurements while the vehicle is traveling through a geographic area, the plurality of measurements comprising velocity data of the vehicle and the positions of a plurality of objects in the geographic area, determine a current apparatus height, determine a path of the vehicle, detect an obstruction in the path, wherein the obstruction is an object of the plurality of objects, determine an obstruction clearance height, establish, as a function of the velocity data and multiple position recordings of the obstruction, that the obstruction is a stationary obstruction, determine that the current apparatus height is higher than the obstruction clearance height; and trigger the lowering actuator to lower the apparatus including the data acquisition device to below the obstruction clearance height. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18)
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13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed by a processor are configured to cause an apparatus at least to:
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record, with a data acquisition device, a plurality of measurements while a vehicle is traveling through a geographic area, the plurality of measurements including a velocity of the vehicle, positions relative to the vehicle of a plurality of objects in the geographic area, and a measure of a minimum clearance height of the plurality of objects; determine a path of the vehicle; detect an obstruction in the path, wherein the obstruction is an object of the plurality of objects, and the obstruction has a minimum clearance height lower than a height of the vehicle; establish, as a function of the velocity of the vehicle and multiple positions of the obstruction relative to the vehicle, that the obstruction is a stationary obstruction; and lower, automatically, part of the vehicle including the data acquisition device to a height that is lower than the minimum clearance height. - View Dependent Claims (14, 17, 19)
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Specification