JP2020147237A - Warning device and warning method - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve safety at an intersection.SOLUTION: A warning device 1 comprises: an own-vehicle speed identification part 121 that identifies a speed of an own vehicle V; an other-vehicle speed identification part 122 that identifies speeds of other vehicles advancing in the same direction as a direction in which the own vehicle V advances on the lateral side of the own vehicle V; and a warning control part 123 that puts on a forward warning lamp 3 provided ahead of the own vehicle V when the speeds of the other vehicles, identified by the other-vehicle speed identification part 122, are higher than the speed of the own vehicle V, identified by the own-vehicle speed identification part 121.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a warning device and a warning method for improving safety.

A technique for activating an alarm to warn another vehicle when the presence of an object crossing the front or the rear of the own vehicle is detected is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-217756

When a vehicle makes a right turn at an intersection and a large vehicle such as a truck exists as an oncoming vehicle, if the driver of the vehicle making a right turn does not notice the passing vehicle traveling on the side of the large vehicle, the vehicle makes a right turn. There is a risk of collision between the vehicle and the vehicle that slips through.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving safety at an intersection.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the speed specifying unit for specifying the speed of the own vehicle and the speed of another vehicle traveling on the side of the own vehicle in the same direction as the own vehicle travels are specified. When the speed of the other vehicle specified by the other vehicle speed specifying unit is larger than the speed of the other vehicle specified by the other vehicle speed specifying unit and the own vehicle specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit, a warning light provided in front of the own vehicle is provided. Provided is a warning device including a warning control unit for lighting.

For example, the warning control unit turns on the warning light when the vehicle speed of the own vehicle specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit is equal to or less than a threshold value.

The warning device further includes an oncoming vehicle detection unit that detects an oncoming vehicle existing in front of the own vehicle, and the warning control unit lights the warning light when the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the oncoming vehicle. Turn it on.

For example, the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle indicated by the oncoming vehicle direction indicator, and the warning control unit detects the traveling direction detected by the oncoming vehicle detecting unit and the other. When the direction in which the vehicle is traveling intersects, the warning light is turned on.

For example, when the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle has started traveling, and the warning control unit detects that the oncoming vehicle has started traveling, the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects. A warning sound is output to the horn mounted on the own vehicle.

For example, when the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the oncoming vehicle, the warning control unit lights a side warning light provided on the side of the own vehicle, which is different from the warning light.

The warning device further includes a distance specifying unit that specifies the distance between the position of the own vehicle and an intersection existing in the direction in which the own vehicle travels, and the warning control unit is the said that the distance specifying unit has specified. When the distance decreases and becomes equal to or less than the determination distance for determining whether or not to turn on the warning light, the warning light is turned on.

In the second aspect of the present invention, a step of specifying the speed of the vehicle, which is executed by a processor mounted on the vehicle, and another vehicle traveling on the side of the vehicle in the same direction as the vehicle travels. Provided is a warning method having a step of specifying the speed of the vehicle and a step of turning on a warning light provided in front of the vehicle when the speed of the other vehicle is higher than the speed of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the safety at an intersection can be improved.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the warning device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process of turning on a forward warning light. It is a figure which shows the structure of the warning device which concerns on the modification 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which outputs a warning sound. It is a figure which shows the structure of the warning device which concerns on modification 2.

[Outline of Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an intersection. Own vehicle V is a vehicle stopped at an intersection. The other vehicle A is a passing vehicle that tries to pass through the side of the own vehicle V and go straight through the intersection. The oncoming vehicle B is a vehicle that is about to turn right at an intersection.

The warning device according to the embodiment is a device mounted on the own vehicle V. The warning device detects the speed of the own vehicle V and the speed of the other vehicle A, which is a passing vehicle. Then, when the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V, the warning device turns on the front warning light 3 provided in front of the own vehicle V.

By doing so, the warning device can notify the driver of the oncoming vehicle B that there is another vehicle A trying to pass by the side of the own vehicle V. The driver of the oncoming vehicle B can grasp the existence of another vehicle A that cannot be directly visually recognized by the own vehicle V. Then, the driver of the oncoming vehicle B who has grasped the existence of the other vehicle A can drive the oncoming vehicle B so as to avoid contact with the other vehicle A. Therefore, the warning device can suppress the contact between the other vehicle A and the oncoming vehicle B, so that the safety at the intersection can be improved.

[Warning device according to the embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the warning device 1. The own vehicle V on which the warning device 1 is mounted includes a sensor 2 and a front warning light 3.

The sensor 2 detects the distance between the other vehicle A and the own vehicle V traveling around the own vehicle V. The sensor 2 is, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, a millimeter wave radar, or a LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging).

The front warning light 3 is a warning light provided in front of the own vehicle V. The front warning light 3 is provided at a position where the driver of the oncoming vehicle B facing the own vehicle V can see.

The warning device 1 includes a storage unit 11 and a control unit 12. The storage unit 11 has, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 11 stores various programs for operating the control unit 12.

The control unit 12 is a computing resource including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). By executing the program stored in the storage unit 11, the control unit 12 realizes the functions as the own vehicle speed specifying unit 121, the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122, and the warning control unit 123.

The own vehicle speed specifying unit 121 specifies the speed of the own vehicle V. The own vehicle speed specifying unit 121 specifies the speed of the own vehicle V based on the information output from the speed sensor mounted on the own vehicle V.

The other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifies the speed of the other vehicle A traveling on the side of the own vehicle V in the same direction as the own vehicle V travels. The other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifies the speed and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A based on the distance between the other vehicle A and the own vehicle V detected by the sensor 2. Specifically, the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifies the relative speed based on the change in the distance between the other vehicle A and the own vehicle V, and the speed of the other vehicle A is based on the relative speed and the speed of the own vehicle V. To identify. Further, the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifies the traveling direction of the other vehicle A based on the change in the distance between the other vehicle A and the own vehicle V.

When the speed of the other vehicle A specified by the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 is larger than the speed of the own vehicle V specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit 121, the warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3. By doing so, the warning device 1 can turn on the front warning light 3 when there is another vehicle A trying to pass through the side of the own vehicle V at a speed faster than the own vehicle V. Therefore, the driver of the oncoming vehicle B can grasp the existence of the other vehicle A that cannot be directly visually recognized by the own vehicle V, and can drive the oncoming vehicle B so as to avoid contact with the other vehicle A. Therefore, the warning device can suppress the contact between the other vehicle A and the oncoming vehicle B, so that the safety at the intersection can be improved.

Whether or not the warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3 when the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V and the vehicle speed of the own vehicle V specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit 121 turns on the front warning light 3. When it is equal to or less than the speed threshold value for determining the above, the front warning light 3 is turned on. The speed threshold value may be a determination threshold value for specifying whether or not the own vehicle V is stopped. The determination threshold is, for example, 1 km / h. In this way, the warning device 1 turns on the front warning light 3 when the vehicle passing through is detected and the own vehicle V is traveling slowly in front of the intersection. By doing so, the warning device 1 can notify the driver of the oncoming vehicle B, which thinks that the slow-moving own vehicle V will stop before the intersection and starts the progress of the vehicle, that there is a passing vehicle. ..

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for turning on the front warning light 3. First, the own vehicle speed specifying unit 121 specifies the speed of the own vehicle V (step S1). Next, the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifies the speed of the other vehicle A (step S2). The order of the process of the own vehicle speed specifying unit 121 specifying the speed of the own vehicle V and the process of the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 specifying the speed of the other vehicle A is arbitrary.

Subsequently, the warning control unit 123 determines whether or not the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V (step S3). When the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V (Yes in step S3), the warning control unit 123 determines whether or not the speed of the own vehicle V is equal to or less than the threshold value (step S4).

When the speed of the own vehicle V is equal to or less than the threshold value (Yes in step S4), the warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3 (step S5). When the speed of the own vehicle V is equal to or higher than the speed of the other vehicle A (No in step S3), or when the speed of the own vehicle V is larger than the threshold value (No in step S4), the warning control unit 123 has a forward warning light. The process ends without turning on 3.

(Modification example 1)
The warning device 1 may turn on the front warning light 3 on condition that the oncoming vehicle B is detected in front of the own vehicle V. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the warning device 1 according to the modified example 1. The own vehicle V equipped with the warning device 1 according to the first modification further includes a camera 4, a horn 5, and a side warning light 6.

The camera 4 images the front of the own vehicle V including the oncoming vehicle B. The horn 5 is a device that outputs a warning sound. The side warning light 6 is a warning light provided on the side of the own vehicle V. The side warning light 6 is provided at a position where the driver of the other vehicle A traveling on the side of the own vehicle V can visually recognize the side warning light 6. Further, it is desirable that the side warning light 6 is provided in front of the side of the own vehicle V.

The control unit 12 of the warning device 1 according to the first modification realizes the function as the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 11.

The oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects the oncoming vehicle B existing in front of the own vehicle V. For example, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects the oncoming vehicle B existing in front of the own vehicle V by analyzing the captured image captured by the camera 4. The oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 may detect the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B indicated by the direction indicator of the oncoming vehicle B. Specifically, when the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects that the direction indicator provided on the right front side of the oncoming vehicle B is blinking, the oncoming vehicle B detects that the oncoming vehicle B turns right at the intersection.

When the oncoming vehicle B is detected, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle B has started traveling by analyzing the captured image captured by the camera 4. For example, when the oncoming vehicle B detects that the oncoming vehicle B turns right at the intersection, the oncoming vehicle detecting unit 124 detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle B has advanced and started to make a right turn. Specifically, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 identifies the position of the oncoming vehicle B in the captured image, and detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle B has started traveling based on the change in the position of the identified oncoming vehicle B. To do. Further, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 identifies the distance between the oncoming vehicle B and the own vehicle V based on the captured image captured by the camera 4, and the oncoming vehicle B starts traveling based on the change in the specified distance. You may detect whether or not.

The warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3 when the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V and when the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects the oncoming vehicle B. For example, the warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3 when the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B detected by the oncoming vehicle detecting unit 124 intersects with the traveling direction of the other vehicle A. Specifically, the warning control unit 123 detects that the oncoming vehicle B turns right at the intersection, and turns on the front warning light 3 when the other vehicle A goes straight through the intersection. The warning control unit 123 does not have to turn on the front warning light 3 when the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A do not intersect.

In this way, the warning device 1 turns on the front warning light 3 when there is a risk that the other vehicle A and the oncoming vehicle B come into contact with each other. By doing so, the driver of the oncoming vehicle B can be warned only when there is another vehicle A passing by the side of the own vehicle V.

When the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects that the oncoming vehicle B has started traveling, the warning control unit 123 causes the horn 5 mounted on the own vehicle V to output a warning sound. Specifically, the warning control unit 123 is a warning device when the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A intersect, and when the oncoming vehicle B advances and starts a right turn. Make 5 output a warning sound. By doing so, the warning device 1 can output a warning sound when the probability of contact between the oncoming vehicle B and the other vehicle A becomes high, so that the driver of the oncoming vehicle B and the other vehicle A can output a warning sound. It can call the driver's attention.

The warning control unit 123 turns on the side warning light 6 when the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V and when the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects the oncoming vehicle B. Further, the warning control unit 123 lights the front warning light 3 and the side warning light 6 at the same time. By doing so, the warning device 1 can notify the other vehicle A that is about to pass by the side of the own vehicle V that the oncoming vehicle B exists. Further, since the warning device 1 lights the front warning light 3 and the side warning light 6 at the same time, it is possible to notify the driver of the other vehicle A and the driver of the oncoming vehicle B, which are passing vehicles, of each other's existence.

The warning device 1 according to the modified example 1 is provided with the front warning light 3 and the side warning light 6, but is not limited to this, and the driver of the other vehicle A and the driver of the oncoming vehicle B, which are passing vehicles, respectively. You may provide one warning light at a position where you can see.

[Process to output warning sound]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for outputting a warning sound. The process of outputting the warning sound is executed when the speed of the other vehicle A is higher than the speed of the own vehicle V and when the oncoming vehicle B is detected.

First, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B indicated by the direction indicator of the oncoming vehicle B (step S10). Subsequently, the warning control unit 123 determines whether or not the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A intersect (step S11). The warning control unit 123 ends the process when the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A do not intersect (No in step S11).

When the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B and the traveling direction of the other vehicle A intersect (Yes in step S11), the warning control unit 123 turns on the front warning light 3 (step S12). Subsequently, the oncoming vehicle detection unit 124 detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle B has started traveling (step S13). When the oncoming vehicle B has not started traveling (No in step S13), the warning control unit 123 waits until the oncoming vehicle B starts traveling with the front warning light 3 turned on. When the oncoming vehicle B starts traveling (Yes in step S13), the warning control unit 123 causes the horn 5 to output a warning sound (step S14).

(Modification 2)
The warning device 1 may turn on the front warning light 3 on condition that the vehicle is approaching an intersection. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the warning device 1 according to the modified example 2. The control unit 12 of the warning device 1 according to the second modification realizes the function as the distance specifying unit 125 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 11.

The distance specifying unit 125 specifies the distance between the position of the own vehicle V and the intersection existing in the direction in which the own vehicle V travels. First, the distance specifying unit 125 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver that receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of navigation satellites, and identifies the position of the own vehicle V by analyzing the received radio waves. Next, the distance specifying unit 125 identifies the position of the intersection existing in the direction in which the own vehicle V travels, based on the map information stored in the storage unit 11 in advance. Then, the distance specifying unit 125 specifies the reachable distance from the specified position of the own vehicle V to the position of the intersection.

The warning control unit 123 determines whether or not the other vehicle speed specifying unit 122 detects that the other vehicle A exists on the side of the own vehicle V, the reach is reduced, and the front warning light 3 is turned on. When the distance specifying unit 125 detects that the distance is equal to or less than the determination distance, the front warning light 3 is turned on. The determination distance is, for example, 10 meters. Further, when the reach distance is equal to or less than the determination distance, the warning control unit 123 may turn on the front warning light 3 when there is no vehicle in front of the own vehicle V traveling in the same direction as the own vehicle V. Good.

In this way, the warning device 1 turns on the front warning light 3 in advance when approaching the intersection with another vehicle A on the side. Therefore, the driver of the oncoming vehicle B can grasp that there is a passing vehicle on the side of the own vehicle V approaching the intersection.

[Effect of Warning Device 1 According to the Embodiment]
As described above, in the warning device 1 according to the embodiment, the speed of the other vehicle A traveling on the side of the own vehicle V in the same direction as the own vehicle V is larger than the speed of the own vehicle V. In this case, the front warning light 3 provided in front of the own vehicle V is turned on. By doing so, the warning device 1 can notify the driver of the oncoming vehicle B that there is another vehicle A trying to pass by the side of the own vehicle V.

The driver of the oncoming vehicle B can grasp the existence of another vehicle A that cannot be directly visually recognized by the own vehicle V. Then, the driver of the oncoming vehicle B who has grasped the existence of the other vehicle A can drive the oncoming vehicle B so as to avoid contact with the other vehicle A. Therefore, the warning device can suppress the contact between the other vehicle A and the oncoming vehicle B, so that the safety at the intersection can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case of so-called left-hand traffic, in which the vehicle passes through the left portion from the center of the road, has been described. Not limited to this, the present invention can also be applied to the case of so-called right-hand traffic in which a vehicle passes through a portion to the right from the center of the road.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist. is there. For example, all or a part of the device can be functionally or physically distributed / integrated in any unit. Also included in the embodiments of the present invention are new embodiments resulting from any combination of the plurality of embodiments. The effect of the new embodiment produced by the combination has the effect of the original embodiment.

1 Warning device 2 Sensor 3 Front warning light 4 Camera 5 Warning device 6 Side warning light 11 Storage unit 12 Control unit 121 Own vehicle speed identification unit 122 Other vehicle speed identification unit 123 Warning control unit 124 Oncoming vehicle detection unit 125 Distance identification unit

Claims (8)

The own vehicle speed identification part that specifies the speed of the own vehicle, and
Another vehicle speed specifying unit that specifies the speed of another vehicle traveling in the same direction as the own vehicle traveling on the side of the own vehicle, and
When the speed of the other vehicle specified by the other vehicle speed specifying unit is larger than the speed of the own vehicle specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit, a warning control unit that lights a warning light provided in front of the own vehicle. When,
Warning device with. The warning control unit turns on the warning light when the vehicle speed of the own vehicle specified by the own vehicle speed specifying unit is equal to or less than a threshold value.
The warning device according to claim 1. An oncoming vehicle detection unit for detecting an oncoming vehicle existing in front of the own vehicle is further provided.
When the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the oncoming vehicle, the warning control unit turns on the warning light.
The warning device according to claim 1 or 2. The oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle indicated by the oncoming vehicle direction indicator, and detects the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle.
The warning control unit turns on the warning light when the traveling direction detected by the oncoming vehicle detecting unit intersects with the traveling direction of the other vehicle.
The warning device according to claim 3. The oncoming vehicle detection unit detects whether or not the oncoming vehicle has started traveling,
When the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects that the oncoming vehicle has started to move, the warning control unit causes the horn mounted on the own vehicle to output a warning sound.
The warning device according to claim 3 or 4. When the oncoming vehicle detection unit detects the oncoming vehicle, the warning control unit lights a side warning light provided on the side of the own vehicle, which is different from the warning light.
The warning device according to any one of claims 3 to 5. Further provided with a distance specifying unit for specifying the distance between the position of the own vehicle and the intersection existing in the direction in which the own vehicle travels.
The warning control unit turns on the warning light when the distance specified by the distance specifying unit decreases and becomes equal to or less than a determination distance for determining whether or not to turn on the warning light.
The warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Executed by the processor installed in the vehicle,
The step of identifying the speed of the vehicle and
A step of specifying the speed of another vehicle traveling on the side of the vehicle in the same direction as the vehicle travels, and
When the speed of the other vehicle is higher than the speed of the vehicle, the step of turning on the warning light provided in front of the vehicle and the step of turning on the warning light.
Warning method with.

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