EP4179515A1 - A road anti-collision system, and a method for preventing road collisions - Google Patents

A road anti-collision system, and a method for preventing road collisions

Info

Publication number
EP4179515A1
EP4179515A1 EP21743429.9A EP21743429A EP4179515A1 EP 4179515 A1 EP4179515 A1 EP 4179515A1 EP 21743429 A EP21743429 A EP 21743429A EP 4179515 A1 EP4179515 A1 EP 4179515A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
road intersection
along
signals
light emitting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21743429.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jacopo CATANI
Tassadaq NAWAZ
Stefano CAPUTO
Francesco Saverio CATALIOTTI
Marco SEMINARA
Lorenzo Mucchi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Laboratorio Europeo Di Spettroscopie Non Lineari
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche CNR
Universita degli Studi di Firenze
Original Assignee
Laboratorio Europeo Di Spettroscopie Non Lineari
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche CNR
Universita degli Studi di Firenze
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Laboratorio Europeo Di Spettroscopie Non Lineari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche CNR, Universita degli Studi di Firenze filed Critical Laboratorio Europeo Di Spettroscopie Non Lineari
Publication of EP4179515A1 publication Critical patent/EP4179515A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
    • G08G1/161—Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
    • G08G1/162—Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication event-triggered
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096733—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place
    • G08G1/09675—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
    • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
    • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
    • G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
    • G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
    • G08G1/164—Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to a system and a method for preventing collisions among vehicles in road networks, and more specifically for preventing collisions among vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.
  • one category of solutions is mainly devised to contrast and mitigate the results of accidents, while another category of solutions, of the type of the present invention, is conceived to prevent as much as possible any potential collision.
  • the present invention is aimed at fulfilling at least partially such needs by providing a solution suitable to reduce the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is extremely flexible and can be applied to any type of road intersection, and with any type of vehicles, be them of the type with or without drivers.
  • Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a road anti-collision system according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for preventing road collisions according to the present invention
  • Figure 3 is a view schematically showing an exemplary application of the system and method according to the invention to a four-direction crossroad.
  • each of the above listed terms means and encompasses electronic circuits or parts thereof, as well as stored, embedded or running software codes and/or routines, algorithms, or complete programs, suitably designed for achieving the technical result and/or the functional performances for which such means are devised.
  • the road anti-collision system comprises at least: - a signal transceiver apparatus 10 which is installed at or close to a road intersection 100;
  • a signal transmitting apparatus which is configured at least to transmit, to the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection 100.
  • the signal transmitting apparatus 20 is configured to provide one or more first signals Si indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along a first direction leading to the road intersection 100, be the first device stopped along the first direction (A) e.g. at a traffic light, or moving towards the road intersection 100.
  • the signal transceiver apparatus 10 is configured, based on the one or more first signals Si which are received in input from the first signal transmitting apparatus 20, to emit one or more corresponding first light signals LSi carrying information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A), and in particular of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A); such first light signals LSi are transmitted at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction.
  • the control system 1 further comprises a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals LSi in order to extract from the detected signals, the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
  • a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals LSi in order to extract from the detected signals, the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
  • the intensity of the first light signals LSi is suitably modulated and the modulated light signals LSi are emitted at least in a second direction, indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (B), which is different from the first direction indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (A), and in particular towards a second vehicle 102 which is for example stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the second direction (B), while the first vehicle 101 is stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), and hence there is the possibility that the vehicles may intersect their paths when entering the road intersection 100.
  • the information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) can include static and or dynamic parameters, for example data related, but not limited, to only the actual presence of the first vehicle 101 , and/or about its actual status, e.g. stopped/moving, and/or about its speed, distance from the road intersection, et cetera.
  • the signal transceiver apparatus 10 comprises at least:
  • At least one first light emitting source 11 which is installed at or close to the road intersection 100 and which is suitably oriented to emit in the second direction (B) towards the second vehicle 102, the one or more corresponding first light signals LSi;
  • the signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part, at least partially, of one or more traffic lights 120 installed at the road intersection 100.
  • the first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100.
  • the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
  • the one or more lamps 125 are conveniently LED-based lamps.
  • the whole signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part of the structure of a traffic light structure 120 installed at the road intersection 100.
  • the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source.
  • the one or more lamps 125 can be laser-based lamps.
  • the signal receiving apparatus 30 comprises at least: - an optical detector 32 which is mounted on-board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured to detect the one or more first light signals LSi emitted by the signal transceiver apparatus 10; and
  • At least one second electronic device 34 also mounted on board of the second vehicle 102, which is configured to process said one or more first light signals LSi received in input by the on-board optical detector 32 and to extract from there the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 present along the first direction (A).
  • the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to generate a control signal S c suitable for triggering an action by a driver or by an automatic on-board control system 103 of the second vehicle 102, based on the information extracted from the intensity modulated signals LSi received in input by the on-board optical detector 32.
  • control signal Sc can be provided for example to the control and/or navigation system installed on-board of the second vehicle 102, or to the driver thereof, and it can trigger any needed action, such a slowing down or a braking action actuated by the driver or automatically by the mentioned on board system.
  • control system 1 comprises a second light emitting source 36 which is mounted onboard of the second vehicle 102 and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals LS2 towards a further vehicle, schematically represented in figure 3 by a dotted box 103, trailing the second vehicle 102 along the second direction (B).
  • a second light emitting source 36 which is mounted onboard of the second vehicle 102 and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals LS2 towards a further vehicle, schematically represented in figure 3 by a dotted box 103, trailing the second vehicle 102 along the second direction (B).
  • the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to drive the second light emitting source 36 to emit one or more second light signals LS2 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).
  • the second electronic device 34 modulates properly the intensity of the second light signals LS2 in order to convey to the trailing vehicle 103 the relevant information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).
  • the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
  • the second light emitting source 36 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the backlights of the second vehicle 102, and in particular such backlights can be LED-based.
  • the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming the backlights 104, or an additional device.
  • the signal transceiver apparatus 20 comprises a plurality of first light emitting sources 11 which are all installed at or close to the road intersection 100.
  • each of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 is associated to, and in particular is oriented each to emit the respective first light signals LSi in a corresponding direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction (A).
  • each first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a corresponding traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100, and in particular each is associated to a corresponding traffic light signal 120 assigned to a dedicated direction heading to the road intersection 100.
  • FIG 3 there are represented only two traffic lights 120; clearly similar traffic lights can be associated to the other two directions (C) and (D) therein indicated.
  • some of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 preferably all, comprise or are constituted each by a LED- based light emitting source.
  • the one or more lamps 125 playing also the function of light emitting sources 11 are conveniently LED-based lamps.
  • the at least one first electronic device 12 comprises one or more electronic devices configured, based on the one or more first signals Si received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus 20, to drive the plurality of first light emitting sources 11 to emit, along the associated direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, each the respective first light signals LSi whose intensity is modulated to carry out the information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).
  • the at least one first electronic device 12 can comprise a unique electronic device 12 driving all light emitting sources 11 , or it can comprises two or more substantially identical first electronic devices 12, each driving one or more associated light emitting sources 11. In this way, the relevant information relative to the presence of a vehicle 101 stopped at or moving towards the road intersection 100 along the direction (A), is made available to the vehicles that are stopped or are approaching the same road intersection 100, along the other directions (B), (C), (D), et cetera.
  • the signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises a detector 22 which is installed in a fixed position, namely outside the first vehicle 101 and is configured to detect the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) and to send, in input to the first transceiver apparatus 10, the first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).
  • the detector 22 comprises a sensor selected from the group comprising, but not limited to, a proximity sensor, a speed sensor, a radar or any other sensor providing relevant information about the dynamical status of the vehicle.
  • the detector 22, as well an any circuitry associated therewith can be mounted off board of the first vehicle 101 , at any suitable position relative to the vehicle, for instance at the level of the road surface as illustrated in the example of figure 3, or on a side along the direction (A), e.g. on a pole 106, or elsewhere.
  • the first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 can be transmitted to the signal transceiver apparatus 10 by means of any suitable technology implemented by the type of detector 25 used, either wireless or wired depending on the specific application and/or needs.
  • the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 is installed at least partially, preferably completely, on board of the first vehicle 101.
  • the role of the detector 22 can be played by the odometer or by any GPS device installed on board.
  • the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises at least:
  • a further electronic device indicated in figure 1 by the dotted box 26, which is configured to drive the further light emitting source 24 to emit, towards the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more further light signals LS3 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).
  • the further light emitting source 24 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the headlights 108 of the first vehicle 101.
  • the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
  • headlights 108 can be LED-based.
  • the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming a headlight 108 of the first vehicle 101 , or an additional device.
  • the additional signal receiving apparatus can be also equipped with the same components described above for the second vehicle 2 and needed to further propagate the information received along the direction (A) to a respective trailing vehicle.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a method 200 for preventing road collisions at a road intersection 100, according to the invention, which can be executed for example by the various parts of the system 1 previously described.
  • the method 200 comprises at least the following steps:
  • - 210 transmitting, for example by means of a first signal transmitting apparatus 20, one or more first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection 100; - 220: emitting, for example by means of a signal transceiver apparatus 20 which is installed at or close to said road intersection 100 and based on the transmitted one or more first signals Si, one or more first light signals LSi carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A), and leading to the road intersection (100); and, by means of a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of said second vehicle 102:
  • - 230 detecting, the one or more first light signals LSi; and then - 240: processing the one or more first light signals LSi detected extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 located along the first direction (A).
  • the step 220 of emitting comprises modulating the intensity of the one or more first light signals LSi to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
  • the step 240 of processing comprises demodulating the one or more first signals LSi and extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
  • the method 200 comprises the further step 250 of generating, based on the information extracted from the processed one or more first light signals LSi, a control signal Sc suitable for triggering an action by a driver by of an automatic on-board control system of the second vehicle 102.
  • control system 1 and method 200 can implement in term of steps each of the functionalities described in connection with the various parts of the system 1 , which are not hereby replicated and described again as part of the method 200, for the sake of conciseness.
  • the use of visible light communication is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs.
  • the first light signals LSi can be emitted precisely in a selected direction, and in particular only towards the recipient that needs to receive the relevant information, namely the second vehicle 102 which is the first one in proximity of the road intersection, thus inherently increasing the safety of communication; further, thanks to the intrinsic large width of the transmission band of such type of communication, relevant data are transferred at very high speed and processed at very low latencies.
  • system 1 and method 100 thus conceived are susceptible of modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in particular by the appended claims, and including any possible combination, either complete or partial or the embodiments described; for example, in connection to a specific application, one or more of the described apparatuses can be realized each as a whole, unique and stand-alone device, or some of the components can be positioned remotely from each other, e.g.
  • the first traffic lights can be of any type other than pole-mounted, for instance they can be suspended above the central part of the road intersection 100;
  • any light emitting source which might be used on board of a vehicle can be a light source additional to the headlights or backlights of the vehicle; for instance, the first light source can be any light source with sufficient modulation bandwidth.
  • the various electronic devices previously described can be constituted by, or comprise, any suitable processor-based device, e.g.
  • the electronic devices mounted on board of a vehicle can be part of the control system installed on-board of the vehicle itself, or each can be a separated unit specifically dedicated to the functionalities provided for it.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)

Abstract

A road anti-collision system (1) comprising at least: - a signal transceiver apparatus (10) installed at or close to a road intersection (100); - a signal transmitter apparatus (20) which is configured at least to transmit, to the signal transceiver apparatus (10), first signals (Si) indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100). The signal transceiver apparatus (10) is configured, based on the first signals (Si), to emit corresponding first light signals (LS1) carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) at least towards a second vehicle (102) which is along a second direction (B) leading to the road intersection (100); - a signal receiving apparatus (30) which is installed on board of the second vehicle (102) and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the first light signals (LS1) for extracting the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A). The invention encompasses also a method (200) for preventing road collisions at a road intersection (100).

Description

A ROAD ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM, AND A METHOD FOR PREVENTING ROAD COLLISIONS
The present invention relates in general to a system and a method for preventing collisions among vehicles in road networks, and more specifically for preventing collisions among vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.
As known, unfortunately many road accidents happen every day for different reasons. In order to mitigate such issue, which causes several damages and often also casualties, there has been developed a countless number of solutions aimed at improving road safety from different points of view.
For example, one category of solutions is mainly devised to contrast and mitigate the results of accidents, while another category of solutions, of the type of the present invention, is conceived to prevent as much as possible any potential collision.
Although many solutions currently available on the market, either mounted directly on board of the vehicle and/or installed along road networks, have allowed on average an overall increase of road safety, there is still further room and needs for further improvements, in particular in certain practical circumstances, such as the ones occurring where the direct field of visibility is reduced, namely at road intersections, and especially in view of the recent development of the so-called driverless, or autonomous or self-driving vehicles. Hence, the present invention is aimed at fulfilling at least partially such needs by providing a solution suitable to reduce the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.
Within such aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is extremely flexible and can be applied to any type of road intersection, and with any type of vehicles, be them of the type with or without drivers.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs.
This aim, the above indicated objects and others which may become apparent from the following description are achieved by a road anti-collision system as defined in independent claim 1 , and by a method for preventing road collisions as defined in independent claim 14.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, which can be taken alone or in whatever possible combination, either partial or complete, and whose subject matter is to be understood as forming an integral part of the present description.
Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive exemplary embodiments of a system and a method according to the present disclosure, illustrated only by way of non-limitative examples with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a road anti-collision system according to the present invention
Figure 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for preventing road collisions according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a view schematically showing an exemplary application of the system and method according to the invention to a four-direction crossroad.
It should be noted that in the detailed description that follows, identical or similar components, either from a structural and/or functional point of view, may have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present disclosure or a distinct parts.
It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely describe the present disclosure, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the disclosure may be shown in somewhat schematic form.
Further, when the term "adapted" or "arranged" or "configured" or "shaped", or a similar term is used herein while referring to any component as a whole, or to any part of a component, or to a combination of components, it has to be understood that it means and encompasses correspondingly either the structure, and/or configuration, and/or form, and/or positioning.
In particular, for electronic and/or software means, each of the above listed terms means and encompasses electronic circuits or parts thereof, as well as stored, embedded or running software codes and/or routines, algorithms, or complete programs, suitably designed for achieving the technical result and/or the functional performances for which such means are devised. In addition, when the term “substantial” or “substantially” is used herein, it has to be understood as encompassing an actual variation of plus or minus 5% with respect to an indicated reference value or position, and when the terms transversal or transversally are hereby used, they have to be understood as encompassing a direction non-parallel to the reference part(s) or direction(s)/axis they refer to, and perpendicularity has to be considered a specific case of transverse direction.
Finally, in the following description and claims, the numeral cardinals first, second, third et cetera..., will be used only for the sake of clarity of description and in no way they should be understood as limiting for whatsoever reason; in particular, the indication of a component referred to for instance as the “fourth does not imply necessarily the presence or strict need of the preceding “first” or “second” or "third” ones, unless such presence is clearly evident for the correct functioning of the relevant embodiment(s) described, nor that the order should be the one exactly in the numerical sequence described with reference to the illustrated exemplary embodiment(s).
As illustrated in figure 1 , the road anti-collision system according to the present invention, schematically indicated by the overall reference number 1, comprises at least: - a signal transceiver apparatus 10 which is installed at or close to a road intersection 100;
- a signal transmitting apparatus, indicated by the reference number 20, which is configured at least to transmit, to the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection 100.
In practice, the signal transmitting apparatus 20 is configured to provide one or more first signals Si indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along a first direction leading to the road intersection 100, be the first device stopped along the first direction (A) e.g. at a traffic light, or moving towards the road intersection 100.
The signal transceiver apparatus 10 is configured, based on the one or more first signals Si which are received in input from the first signal transmitting apparatus 20, to emit one or more corresponding first light signals LSi carrying information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A), and in particular of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A); such first light signals LSi are transmitted at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction.
The control system 1 according to the present invention further comprises a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals LSi in order to extract from the detected signals, the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A). In practice, according to the invention, the intensity of the first light signals LSi is suitably modulated and the modulated light signals LSi are emitted at least in a second direction, indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (B), which is different from the first direction indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (A), and in particular towards a second vehicle 102 which is for example stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the second direction (B), while the first vehicle 101 is stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), and hence there is the possibility that the vehicles may intersect their paths when entering the road intersection 100. The information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) can include static and or dynamic parameters, for example data related, but not limited, to only the actual presence of the first vehicle 101 , and/or about its actual status, e.g. stopped/moving, and/or about its speed, distance from the road intersection, et cetera. According to a possible embodiment of the control system 1 , and as schematically illustrated in figure 1 , the signal transceiver apparatus 10 comprises at least:
- at least one first light emitting source 11 which is installed at or close to the road intersection 100 and which is suitably oriented to emit in the second direction (B) towards the second vehicle 102, the one or more corresponding first light signals LSi; and
- at least one first electronic device 12 which is configured, based on the one or more first signals Si received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus 20, to drive the first light emitting source 11 to emit the one or more first light signals LSi; in particular, the electronic device 12 suitably modulates the intensity of the emitted signals LSi so that they carry out the information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A) In one possible embodiment, the signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part, at least partially, of one or more traffic lights 120 installed at the road intersection 100.
In particular, the first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100. According to a possible embodiment, the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
Accordingly, the one or more lamps 125 are conveniently LED-based lamps. According to a possible embodiment, the whole signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part of the structure of a traffic light structure 120 installed at the road intersection 100. According to an alternative embodiment, the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source.
According to this embodiment, the one or more lamps 125 can be laser-based lamps.
In turn, the signal receiving apparatus 30 comprises at least: - an optical detector 32 which is mounted on-board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured to detect the one or more first light signals LSi emitted by the signal transceiver apparatus 10; and
- at least one second electronic device 34, also mounted on board of the second vehicle 102, which is configured to process said one or more first light signals LSi received in input by the on-board optical detector 32 and to extract from there the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 present along the first direction (A).
Usefully, in one embodiment, the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to generate a control signal Sc suitable for triggering an action by a driver or by an automatic on-board control system 103 of the second vehicle 102, based on the information extracted from the intensity modulated signals LSi received in input by the on-board optical detector 32.
For instance, the control signal Sc can be provided for example to the control and/or navigation system installed on-board of the second vehicle 102, or to the driver thereof, and it can trigger any needed action, such a slowing down or a braking action actuated by the driver or automatically by the mentioned on board system.
According to a possible embodiment, the control system 1 comprises a second light emitting source 36 which is mounted onboard of the second vehicle 102 and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals LS2 towards a further vehicle, schematically represented in figure 3 by a dotted box 103, trailing the second vehicle 102 along the second direction (B).
Accordingly, the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to drive the second light emitting source 36 to emit one or more second light signals LS2 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).
In practice, according to this embodiment, the second electronic device 34 modulates properly the intensity of the second light signals LS2 in order to convey to the trailing vehicle 103 the relevant information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).
According to an embodiment, the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source. In a possible embodiment, the second light emitting source 36 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the backlights of the second vehicle 102, and in particular such backlights can be LED-based.
Alternatively, the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming the backlights 104, or an additional device.
According to a possible embodiment, and in particular when the road intersection 100 includes more than two roads leading thereto, such as in the case of the four-road cross-road 100 illustrated in figure 3, the signal transceiver apparatus 20 comprises a plurality of first light emitting sources 11 which are all installed at or close to the road intersection 100.
Conveniently, each of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 is associated to, and in particular is oriented each to emit the respective first light signals LSi in a corresponding direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction (A). In one possible embodiment, each first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a corresponding traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100, and in particular each is associated to a corresponding traffic light signal 120 assigned to a dedicated direction heading to the road intersection 100. In the example illustrated in figure 3 there are represented only two traffic lights 120; clearly similar traffic lights can be associated to the other two directions (C) and (D) therein indicated.
According to a possible embodiment, some of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 , preferably all, comprise or are constituted each by a LED- based light emitting source.
Accordingly, the one or more lamps 125 playing also the function of light emitting sources 11 are conveniently LED-based lamps.
According to an alternative embodiment, some of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 , preferably all, comprise or are constituted each by a laser- based light emitting source, and the one or more lamps 125 playing also the function of light emitting sources 11 can be conveniently laser-based lamps. According to this embodiment, the at least one first electronic device 12 comprises one or more electronic devices configured, based on the one or more first signals Si received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus 20, to drive the plurality of first light emitting sources 11 to emit, along the associated direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, each the respective first light signals LSi whose intensity is modulated to carry out the information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A). As those skilled in the art would easily appreciate, the at least one first electronic device 12 can comprise a unique electronic device 12 driving all light emitting sources 11 , or it can comprises two or more substantially identical first electronic devices 12, each driving one or more associated light emitting sources 11. In this way, the relevant information relative to the presence of a vehicle 101 stopped at or moving towards the road intersection 100 along the direction (A), is made available to the vehicles that are stopped or are approaching the same road intersection 100, along the other directions (B), (C), (D), et cetera. According to a first possible embodiment, the signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises a detector 22 which is installed in a fixed position, namely outside the first vehicle 101 and is configured to detect the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) and to send, in input to the first transceiver apparatus 10, the first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).
In particular, the detector 22 comprises a sensor selected from the group comprising, but not limited to, a proximity sensor, a speed sensor, a radar or any other sensor providing relevant information about the dynamical status of the vehicle. According to this embodiment, the detector 22, as well an any circuitry associated therewith, can be mounted off board of the first vehicle 101 , at any suitable position relative to the vehicle, for instance at the level of the road surface as illustrated in the example of figure 3, or on a side along the direction (A), e.g. on a pole 106, or elsewhere. Accordingly, the first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 can be transmitted to the signal transceiver apparatus 10 by means of any suitable technology implemented by the type of detector 25 used, either wireless or wired depending on the specific application and/or needs. In one alternative embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 is installed at least partially, preferably completely, on board of the first vehicle 101.
In this case, for example the role of the detector 22 can be played by the odometer or by any GPS device installed on board.
According to a possible variant of this alternative embodiment, the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises at least:
- a further light emitting source, indicated in figure 1 by the dotted box 24; and
- a further electronic device, indicated in figure 1 by the dotted box 26, which is configured to drive the further light emitting source 24 to emit, towards the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more further light signals LS3 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).
According to a possible embodiment, the further light emitting source 24 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the headlights 108 of the first vehicle 101. In particular, according to an embodiment, the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
Accordingly, and hence such headlights 108 can be LED-based.
Alternatively, the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming a headlight 108 of the first vehicle 101 , or an additional device.
Further, according to this alternative embodiment, and as those skilled in the art can easily appreciate, it is possible to install on board of the first vehicle 101 also an additional signal receiving apparatus, like the apparatus 30 mounted on board of the second vehicle 102, in order to receive light signals carrying information about the presence of the second vehicle 102 along the direction (B); the additional signal receiving apparatus can be also equipped with the same components described above for the second vehicle 2 and needed to further propagate the information received along the direction (A) to a respective trailing vehicle.
Figure 2 illustrates a method 200 for preventing road collisions at a road intersection 100, according to the invention, which can be executed for example by the various parts of the system 1 previously described. In particular, the method 200 comprises at least the following steps:
- 210: transmitting, for example by means of a first signal transmitting apparatus 20, one or more first signals Si indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection 100; - 220: emitting, for example by means of a signal transceiver apparatus 20 which is installed at or close to said road intersection 100 and based on the transmitted one or more first signals Si, one or more first light signals LSi carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A), and leading to the road intersection (100); and, by means of a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of said second vehicle 102:
- 230: detecting, the one or more first light signals LSi; and then - 240: processing the one or more first light signals LSi detected extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 located along the first direction (A).
In particular, the step 220 of emitting comprises modulating the intensity of the one or more first light signals LSi to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
In one embodiment, the step 240 of processing comprises demodulating the one or more first signals LSi and extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).
Conveniently, in one embodiment, the method 200 comprises the further step 250 of generating, based on the information extracted from the processed one or more first light signals LSi, a control signal Sc suitable for triggering an action by a driver by of an automatic on-board control system of the second vehicle 102.
Clearly, in case of a road intersection with more than two roads involved, the various steps above indicated can be functionally replicated for each and any direction leading to the road intersection 100, likewise it was described for the system 1.
Further, the method 200 can implement in term of steps each of the functionalities described in connection with the various parts of the system 1 , which are not hereby replicated and described again as part of the method 200, for the sake of conciseness. Hence, it is evident from the foregoing description that the control system 1 and method 200 according to the present invention allow achieving the intended aim and objects since they make possible to properly and timely inform and warn any vehicle of the presence of another vehicle in proximity of a road intersection, thus mitigating the possibility of accidents.
These results are achieved according to a solution which can be applied to any type of road intersection, and with any type of vehicles, be them of the type with drivers, with autonomous guide, or with mixed type of control. Further, it can exploit components already used for other functionalities, such as the lamps of traffic lights and the lights of the vehicles.
In particular, the use of visible light communication, is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs. Indeed, the first light signals LSi can be emitted precisely in a selected direction, and in particular only towards the recipient that needs to receive the relevant information, namely the second vehicle 102 which is the first one in proximity of the road intersection, thus inherently increasing the safety of communication; further, thanks to the intrinsic large width of the transmission band of such type of communication, relevant data are transferred at very high speed and processed at very low latencies.
The system 1 and method 100 thus conceived are susceptible of modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in particular by the appended claims, and including any possible combination, either complete or partial or the embodiments described; for example, in connection to a specific application, one or more of the described apparatuses can be realized each as a whole, unique and stand-alone device, or some of the components can be positioned remotely from each other, e.g. as separated devices operatively associated to each other to realize the relevant apparatus; the first traffic lights can be of any type other than pole-mounted, for instance they can be suspended above the central part of the road intersection 100; any light emitting source which might be used on board of a vehicle can be a light source additional to the headlights or backlights of the vehicle; for instance, the first light source can be any light source with sufficient modulation bandwidth. Further, the various electronic devices previously described can be constituted by, or comprise, any suitable processor-based device, e.g. a processor of a type commercially available, suitably programmed and provided to the extent necessary with circuitry, in order to perform the innovative functionalities devised for the system 1 according to the present invention; in addition, the electronic devices mounted on board of a vehicle can be part of the control system installed on-board of the vehicle itself, or each can be a separated unit specifically dedicated to the functionalities provided for it.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A road anti-collision system (1), characterized in that it comprises at least: - a signal transceiver apparatus (10) which is installed at or close to a road intersection (100);
- a signal transmitter apparatus (20) which is configured at least to transmit, to said signal transceiver apparatus (10), one or more first signals (Si) indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100); wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) is configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (10), to emit one or more corresponding first light signals (LS-i) carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle (102) which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection (100); and
- a signal receiving apparatus (30) which is installed on board of said second vehicle (102) and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals (LS-i) for extracting the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
2. The system (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) comprises at least: - at least one first light emitting source (11) which is installed at or close to said road intersection (100) and is oriented to emit towards said second vehicle (102) along the second direction (B), the one or more corresponding first light signals (LS-i); and - at least one first electronic device (12) which is configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (20), to drive said first light emitting source (11) to emit one or more first light signals (LS-i) whose intensity is modulated to carry out said information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
3. The system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first light emitting source (11) is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps (125) of a traffic light (120) installed at said road intersection (100).
4. The system (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 and 3, wherein said first light emitting source (11) comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.
5. The system (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 to 4, wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) is integrated in the structure of one or more traffic lights (120) installed at said road intersection (100).
6. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said signal receiving apparatus (30) comprises at least:
- an optical detector (32) which is mounted on board of the second vehicle (102) and is configured to detect the one or more first light signals (LS-i) emitted by the signal transceiver apparatus (10); and - at least one second electronic device (34) which is configured to process said one or more first light signals (LS-i) received in input from said on board optical detector (32) and to extract there from the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
7. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein said second electronic device (34) is further configured to generate, based on the information extracted from the one or more first light signals (LSi) received in input from the onboard optical detector (32), a control signal (Sc) suitable for triggering an action by a driver or by an on-board control system of said second vehicle (102).
8. The system (1 ) according to one or more of the claims 5 and 6, wherein it further comprises a second light emitting source (36) which is mounted on board of the second vehicle (102) and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals (LS2) towards a further vehicle (103) trailing the second vehicle (102) along the second direction (B); and wherein the at least one second electronic device (34) is further configured to drive said second light emitting source (36) to emit the one or more second light signals (LS2) whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
9. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein said second light emitting source (36) is a LED-based light emitting source.
10. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) comprises a plurality of first light emitting sources (11) which are installed at or close to said road intersection (100) and are oriented each to emit one or more corresponding first light signals (LS-i) in an associated direction (B, C, D) leading to the road intersection (100) transversally with respect to the first direction (A); and wherein the at least one first electronic device (12) comprises one or more electronic devices configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (20), to drive the plurality of first light emitting sources (11) to emit the respective one or more first light signals (LS-i) whose intensity is modulated to carry out said information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
11. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the signal transmitting apparatus (20) comprises a detector (22) which is installed in a fixed position and is configured to detect the presence of the first vehicle (101) and to send in input to said first transceiver apparatus (10) said one or more first signals (Si)indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101).
12. The system (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first signal transmitting apparatus (20) comprises at least: - a further light emitting source (24); and
- a further electronic device (26) which is configured to drive the further light emitting source (24) to emit one or more further light signals (LS3) whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100).
13. The system (1) according to claim 12, wherein said further light emitting source (24) is part of or is constituted by one or more of the headlights (108) of the first vehicle (101).
14. A method (200) for preventing road collisions at a road intersection (100), characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:
- (210): transmitting, by means of a first signal transmitting apparatus (20), one or more first signals (Si) indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle (101 ) approaching the road intersection (100) along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100);
- (220): emitting, by means of a signal transceiver apparatus (20) which is installed at or close to said road intersection (100) and based on the one or more first signals (Si) received, one or more first light signals (LS-i) carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle (102) which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection (100); and, by means of a signal receiving apparatus (30) which is installed onboard of said second vehicle (102):
- (230): detecting the one or more first light signals (LS-i); and then
- (240): processing the one or more first light signals (LS-i) detected extracting the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).
15. The method (200) according to claim 14, wherein it comprises the further step (250) of generating, based on the information extracted from the processed one or more first light signals (LS-i), a control signal (Sc) suitable for triggering an action of a driver or of an automatic on-board control system of the second vehicle (102).
EP21743429.9A 2020-07-10 2021-07-09 A road anti-collision system, and a method for preventing road collisions Pending EP4179515A1 (en)

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US20110298603A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2011-12-08 King Timothy I Intersection Collision Warning System
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