WO2009133429A1

WO2009133429A1 - Traffic accident analysis sytem

Info

Publication number: WO2009133429A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/051674
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ibrahim Tekin; Ayhan Bozkurt
Original assignee: Sabanci Universitesi
Priority date: 2008-04-30
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2009-11-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a traffic accident analysis system which obtains the travel records of vehicles such as speed and position in traffic accidents, determines the faults of the vehicles involved in the accident based on the positions of lhc traffic lights., and prepares a report thereof; and enables watching of 2D (two dimensional) or 3D (three dimensional) accident simulation/animation provided based on the said report and data, and also facilitates locating infringements of traffic light and speed and reporting them to the concerned centers.

Description

TRANSL. RULE 12.3 (21.05.2008)

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ANALYSIS SYTEM

Field of the Invcntiou

5 The present invention relates to a traffic accident analysis system which obtains the travel records of vehicles such as speed and position in traffic accidents, determines the faults of the vehicles involved in the accident based on the state of traffic lights, and prepares a report thereof, and also enables reporting infringements of traffic light and speed to the concerned centers. 10

Prior Art

Various methods have been developed for examination of traffic accidents. These methods are used for different purposes such as locating driver's infringement of 15 rules in traffic accidents, determining the fault ratios of the drivers involved in the accident, identifying the risk factors in occurrence of accidents according to the locations of accidents and establishing improvements and safety measures for minimizing accidents with regard to the faults made.

20 In some of the accident analysis methods currently used, after the accident, the concerned official institution is called and the persons to prepare the accident report are expected to arrive to the location of the accident, In the meantime, the vehicles are not moved from their original accident locations. This waiting may cause extreme traffic congestion ai the place of the accident and may even bring

25 traffic to a complete halt. The authorized person to prepare the accident report evaluates the status of the vehicles involved in the accident. There is no tangible evidence related to the speed of the vehicles or to an infringement of a traffic light or rule. All these data arc tried to be reached from the positions of the vehicles involved in the accident, skid marks on the road and the damages to the vehicles.

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More developed accident analysis systems record data related to the speed and brake parameters of the vehicles involved in the accident and authorized people access these data in case of an accident. These systems do not have wireless data transfer inflcrfaoes for collection of data. In accidents where more than one vehicle is involved, records of relative vehicle data, and information on infringement of traffic lights can not be kept.

The USA patent application No. US2003028298 discloses a data system for mobile vehicle accidents. It describes a system which provides for storing of data related to speed, GPS, engine or brake parameters in vehicle accidents and accessing of the authorized panics to ihc said data.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables preparation of an accident analysis report by assessing data like the vehicle's speed, brake parameters, infringement of rules, position and travel.

Another objective of this invention is τo realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables accessing the data like the vehicles' speed, brake parameters, infringement of rules, position and travel by means of a wireless data transfer from the vehicles involved in the accident.

A further objective of the invention is to realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables reporting of the rule infringements made by the vehicles to authorities.

An additional objective of the invention is to realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables exact determination of the lime of traffic accidents.

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Another objective of lhc invention is to realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables vehicles to leave the accident place without having io wait for the authorized person to arrive after the traffic accident.

Yet another objective of the invention is to realize a traffic accident analysis system which enables accurate determination of the driver's faults in traffic accidents without requiring declaration of the drivers.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The traffic accident analysis system realized to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figure, in which,

Figure 1 is the schematic view of the traffic accident analysis system.

The components in the figure are numbered individually where the numbers refer to the following:

I . Traffic accident analysis system 2. Time module

3. Position module

4. Speed module

5. Traffic light module

6. Drake module 7. Directional signal module

8. Road condition module

9. Evaluation module

10. Reporting module

I 1. Animation module 12. Data transfer module

13. Camera module

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14, Measuring module

15. Tire module

The inventive traffic accident analysis system (1 ) essentially comprises at least one time module (2) by which time record is kept,

at least one position module (3) which locates the place of the vehicle and can keep retrospective records upon evaluating its travel directions (time and position modules can be provided in combination by a GPS/Galileo device),

at least one speed module (4) where vehicle's speed is recorded regularly and retrospectively according to time (this can also be provided by the GPS device)

at least one traffic light module (5) which keeps record of the behavior of the driver in relation to the traffic lights,

at least one brake module (6) which enables us to discover when, to what extent and how the driver uses the brake,

ai least one directional signal module (7) which keeps a record of the actions of the driver at limes when he/she has to use the directional signal such as when turning and changing lanes,

at least one road condition module (8) which enables controlling of the factors which might change friction such as (he road that lhe vehicle has been traveling and the rain or snow on the road,

at least one evaluation module (9) which evaluates data such as the vehicle's speed, position, traffic light, directional signal and brake parameters and enables performing reporting and animation according to this evaluation.

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at least one reporting module (10) which prepares an accident report based on the data received from the evaluation module (9).

at least one animation module (11) which simulates the incident of the accident based on the data received from the evaluation module (9).

at least one data transfer module (12) which enables wireless transfer of the information in the evaluation module (9), reports and data like simulation to the computer of the authorized person,

at least one camera module (13) which enables recording of how the accident is seen from the view point of the driver at the time of the accident,

at least one measuring module (14) which enables obtaining data pertaining to the vehicle's acceleration, direction, rollover and skid from devices like compass, gyroscope and accelerometcr for a better evaluation of the accident in cases where the vehicle skids, spins or rolls over,

at least one tire module (15) which enables determining whether or not the vehicle's tires got locked up and started to slide.

Traffic accident analysis system (1 ) regularly records information like vehicle's speed, brake, directional signal, position and time. It is also possible to access the said information retrospectively. The fact that the information related to the vehicles is regularly recorded and that reports of rule infringements can be prepared based on these records, ensures compliance of motor vehicle drivers to the rules. Drivers will know that their actions are regularly monitored and thereby will feel obliged to abide by the rules.

Accident risk maps will be formed in line with the reports received from the traffic accident analysis system (1). Accident statistics will be prepared on a

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regional basis according to these maps and there will be provided improvements for reduction of faults based on the statistics, and safety measures will be taken.

The traffic accident analysis system (J) regularly updates the information like time, speed, brake, directional signal, rule infringement and traffic light by means of the modules. These data are continuously kept in the records and further evaluated in the evaluation module (9). In case of an accident, ihc authorized person accesses these data via wireless data transfer by means of the data transfer module (12). In this data transfer, Bluetooth or Zigbce protocols can be used for short distance communication. In long distance data transfers, radio connection,

GSM/GPRS network or 3G wide band communication networks are used. The authorized person examines the said information and reports and decides what ratio the parties are faulty at the accident. The authorized person watches the simulation of the event by means of the animation ;md evaluation modules (11, 9). For realization of this simulation, the traffic accident analysis System (I ) evaluates positions of the vehicles relative to each other by means of the position module

(3). The position and travel directions of the vehicle arc recorded according to the data regularly received from the satellites, by a GPS/Galileo system by means of the position module (3). The relationship of the vehicles with one another and their relative positions at the time of the accident are evaluated via these records.

Actions of the vehicles are simulated in 2D or 3D by means of Ihc evaluation and animation modules (9, 1 1). By the help of the simulation, the accident will be watched and the fault ratios of the parties will be easily determined according to the vehicles' speed, brake information, time, position and traffic lights.

When accident analyses are being made by means of the said invention, how the accident is seen from the driver's view point is watched by the help of the camera module (13). These images enable an accurate analysis of the accident.

Data pertaining to the vehicle's acceleration, direction, rollover and skid at the time of the accident are obtained by means of the measuring module (14) from

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devices like compass, gyroscope and accelerometer for a better evaluation of the accident in cases where the vehicle skids, spins or rolls over. Additionally, information of whether or not the vehicle's tires got locked up and started to slide is obtained from the tire module (15) and this information is used by the evaluation module (9) in preparing the accident analysis report.

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Claims

24318.03CLAIMS

1 Λ traffic accident analysis system (t ) essential Iy comprising at least one lime module (2) by which time record is kept,

ai least one position module (3) which locates the place of the vehicle and can keep retrospective records upon evaluating its travel directions,

ai least one speed module (4) where vehicle's speed is recorded regularly and retrospectively according to lime.

at least one directional signal module (7) which keeps a record of the actions of the driver at times when he/she has to use the directional signal such as when turning and changing lanes,

at least one road condition module (S) which enables controlling of the factors which might change friction such as the road that the vehicle has been traveling and the rain or snow on the road,

and characterized by

at least one evaluation module (9) which evaluates data such as the vehicle's speed, position, traffic light, directional signal and brake parameters and enables performing reporting and simulation/animation according Io this evaluation,

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at least one reporting module (10) which prepares an accident report based on the data received from the evaluation module (9),

at least one animation module (I I) which performs simulation/animation of the incident of the accident based on the data received from the evaluation πiodule (9).

at least one measuring module (14) which enables obtaining data pertaining to the vehicle's acceleration, direction, rollover and skid from devices like compass, gyroscope and accelerometer for a better evaluation of the accident in cases where the vehicle skids, spins or rolls over,

at least one tire module (J 5) which enables determining whether or not the vehicle's tires got locked up and started to slide.

2. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to Claim 1 characterized by at least one evaluation module (9) wlϋch can evaluate data related to the vehicles involved in the accident such as their speed, brake parameiers, rule infringements, positions and travel, and at least one reporting module (10) which prepares an accident analysis report based on these data.

3. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to Claim 1 and 2 characterized by at least one evaluation module (9) which can evaluate data

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related lo the vehicles involved in the accident such as their speed, brake parameters, rule infringements, positions and travel, and at least one animation module (11) which prepares a 2D or 3D simulation of the accident based on these data.

4. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to Claim 1 , 2 and 3 characterized by at least one data lransfer module (12) which provides transfer of data related to the vehicles involved in the accident such as their speed, brake parameters, rule infringements, positions and travel, accident report and accident animation to the computer of the authorized person via wireless data transfer.

5. A traffic accident analysis system (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by at least one evaluation module (9) which evaluates data such as vehicles^'1 speed, brake parameters, directional signal, traffic light and at least one reporting module (10) which provides reporting of rule infringements to the authorized persons according to the said evaluation.

6. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one time module (2), which enables exact deteπnination of the lime of traffic accidents.

7. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by at least one evaluation and reporting module (9, 10) which enables vehicles to leave the accident place without having to wait for the authorized person to arrive to prepare the accident report and enables preparation of the accident report independent from the presence of the vehicles involved in the accident, at the accident place.

8. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by evaluation, reporting and animation modules (9, 10,

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11) which enable accurate determination of the driver's faults in traffic accidents without requiring declaration of the drivers.

9. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the time module (2), position module (3) and speed module (4) can be combined in one module and that the information coming from these modules can be obtained from GP$.

10. A traffic accident analysis system (I ) according to any of the preceding claims characterised by at least one camera module (13) which enables recording of how the accident is seen from the view point of the driver at the time of the accident.

11. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by at least one measuring module (14) which enables obtaining data pertaining to the vehicle's acceleration, direction, rollover and skid from devices like compass, gyroscope and accelerometer for a better evaluation of the accident in cases where the vehicle skids, spins or rolls over.

12. A traffic accident analysis system (1) according to any of the preceding claims characterized by at least one tire module (15) which enables determining whether or not the vehicle's tires got locked up and started to slide.

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