WO2010097804A2

WO2010097804A2 - System for predictive alerts for collision aversion of automobiles

Info

Publication number: WO2010097804A2
Application number: PCT/IN2010/000085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anjan Cariappa M M
Original assignee: Anjan Cariappa M M
Priority date: 2009-02-28
Filing date: 2010-02-15
Publication date: 2010-09-02
Also published as: WO2010097804A3; WO2010097804A4

Abstract

A device that displays a visual warning at the rear of an automobile by sourcing inputs from the driver before the brakes of the automobile is applied, thus warning the drivers of other automobiles following behind of its intent to slow down or stop and thus reduce driver reaction times (to a possible braking situation) in the driver of the vehicle following.

Description

System for Predictive Alerts for Collision Aversion of Automobiles

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. FIELD OF INVENTION:

This invention relates to automobile sensing system. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for predictive alerts for collision aversion of automobiles.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:

Workplace (on road) hazards have been a major cause of concern in the transport sector and it has been an active consideration to all concerned to reduce the hazards, particularly collisions, faced by the drivers. Two major factors generally governing risk of collisions are - physical as well as psychological behavior of the driver (particularly reaction time of a driver) and other is kinematics of the vehicle.

Apart from head on collisions, many a times collision of vehicles happens by following vehicles which is generally called rear end collision.

Various sensing systems of automobile are available for performing collision warning and countermeasure system operations, such as detection, classification, tracking, and relative distance and velocity estimation of objects within a close proximity of a vehicle.

Driving in a dynamic environment has become increasingly complex, such that drivers must make decisions in a dynamic and potentially high workload mental environment which includes visually tracking objects, monitoring a constantly changing system and managing traditional vehicle and telemetric information

Currently the first warning that a motor vehicle operator gives drivers behind him that the operator is about to slow down or stop abruptly occurs when the operator presses down on the brake pedal which causes the brake lights on the back of the vehicle to light up. Unfortunately, the vehicle in front is already slowing down when the driver in back first sees the brake lights come on Depending on the vehicle speed and the distance between the vehicles, the reaction time of the driver in back to brake his vehicle may be too long to avert rear end collision.

PRIOR ART:

A conventional 'stop warning' is fitted on all automobiles in which when a driver depresses the brake pedal, red stop lights turn on thus warning the following vehicle that the automobile has applied brakes. These red stop lights are fitted on either side at the rear of the vehicle.

The system was then further improved when safety studies showed that installing a third stop light at the centre improved the efficiency.

United States Patent Application 20050090955 by Engelman, Gerald H. ; et al. provides a threat level identification and quantifying system wherein the threat assessment system for a vehicle comprises at least one object detection sensor generating at least one object detection signal; and a controller coupled to said at least one object detection sensor and determining a braking threat number and a steering threat number in response to said at least one object detection signal, said controller determining a threat of said at least one object in response to said braking threat number and said steering threat number. The system is such that the controller performs at least one countermeasure in response to said braking threat number and reduces traveling speed of the vehicle when said brake threat number and / or steering threat number is above a predetermined value. The system also provides that the controller adjusts direction of travel of the vehicle when said steering threat number and / or brake threat number is above a predetermined value.

The major disadvantage of the solution provided by the above patent is that it is too technology intensive and does not provide a simple solution wherein without using a large number of parameters, a simple and yet effective solution can be provided to avoid the collision factor on road.

United States Patent Application 2002009714 by Caplan, Harold E provides a solution for avoiding rear end collisions. This invention provides a system of Caution lights on motor vehicles wherein the system comprised of caution lights are mounted on a motor vehicle that are visible to operators of following vehicles wherein the caution lights can be turned on by the motor vehicle operator by closing either an electrical switch in a battery circuit providing power to the caution lights or closing a relay switch in the battery circuit, wherein the relay is actuated by a radio frequency receiver that is actuated by a radio signal sent to the receiver from a radio transmitter that is actuated by the motor vehicle operator . The caution lights can be turned on by the motor vehicle operator from his driving position when the motor vehicle operator determines that he will soon have to brake his vehicle and turned off when the danger recedes. The switch is located conveniently so that it can be actuated by the operator while driving. The warning lights can also be turned on and off using a radio frequency transmission system such as used in garage door openers. The switch is a relay in the circuit that brings power from the battery to the warning lights which opens and closes, alternately in toggle mode, when a radio frequency receiver on the relay receives a radio signal from a radio transmitter that is activated by the motor vehicle operator. The radio transmitter or manual switch is located so that the motor vehicle operator can activate it safely while driving. It can be portable, or mounted on the steering wheel, or dashboard, or installed in a visor. The radio signal from the radio transmitter is customized to uniquely actuate the receiver.

The main disadvantage of the solution provided by the above patent of Caplan, Harold E, is that the driver has to operate the switch of the caution lights. Introduction of such smart alert system in vehicles could add to the complexity of the dynamic environment of a moving vehicle. In short, this system is not at all user friendly as the concerned driver is loaded with an additional responsibility of operating an another gadget apart from all other complex factors of driving he has to attend.

Thus from the above discussions, it can be readily appreciated that there is a gap in the field of automobile sensing system where an efficient predictive alert system for avoidance of rear end collision is required.

The present invention addresses this gap in collision avoidance system to provide a solution whereby collisions of vehicles can be avoided and / or reduced. OBJECT OF INVENTION:

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automobile sensing system which acts on the basis of physical and psychological action of the driver in a particular situation.

Yet another object of the invention is to reduce on road collisions of automobiles and thereby to reduce loss of lives and assets.

Another object of this present invention is to avoid rear end collision in situations of tailgating vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a device that displays a visual warning at the rear of an automobile by sourcing inputs from the driver before the brakes of the automobile is applied, thus warning the drivers of other automobiles following behind of its intent to slow down or stop and thus reduce driver reaction times (to a possible braking situation) in the driver of the vehicle following.

The system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles provided by the present invention comprises an electronic unit adapted to be connected at one end to an accelerator pedal ( A) and a braking system (B) of the automobile , said electronic unit being connected to a display unit at the other end .Characterized in that .said display unit consists of dual colored LEDs having orange and red colors respectively, said electronic unit consists of an electronic circuit to enable the functioning of the display unit depending upon the inputs from the accelerator pedal ( A) and the brake pedal (B) , so that the Orange LEDs blink when the foot of the driver is off the accelerator pedal ( A) and continue to blink until the brake ( B ) is applied or until the foot of the driver is back on the accelerator pedal ( A ), the red LED becomes on whenever the driver depresses the brakes pedal (B). The system is further connected by a speed sensor (x).

Thus operation of the system is a function of deceleration and braking actions of the automobile.

The system is thus enabled to display a warning light before the driver actually makes certain maneuvers thus warning other following drivers or pedestrians to be better prepared and thus reduce the reaction times.

The system can be enabled in automobiles having both Cruise control system and non

Cruise control system.

The system can be integrated into an existing electrical circuit and the conventional warning setup (standard stop lights) of an automobile to enable display of a visual warning prior to a possible braking situation in the automobile. The present invention itself, together with various advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

For a more complete understanding of this invention , reference is now made to embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying figures and described below wherein ,

Fig 1 is a block diagrammatic view of the predictive alerts for collision aversion for an automobile in accordance to the present invention.

Fig 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the lay out of the circuit of the present invention.

Fig 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the lay out of the circuit of the present invention along with the power supply system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

It is well known in automobile and traffic safety studies that driver reaction time to braking situations is a very important factor. It is in fact primal in the stopping distances of the driven vehicle. According to studies, it takes between 1.5 and 3 seconds for a driver to react to an emergency and then take the corrective action. Reaction time components^* play a major role here.

In a common case scenario, a driver is driving his/her vehicle behind another and both the vehicles are moving at steady speed for example at 80 kmph. The vehicle in the front brakes either to slow down or stop. The driver of the second following vehicle sees the stop light coming on in the first vehicle and reacts accordingly. The reaction time is roughly standard. The red stop light comes on in the first vehicle, the driver in the second vehicle sees it and analyses that the vehicle in front has slowed down and he/she in turn decides to apply the brakes. Precious time is lost here. In certain emergency conditions the driver in the front car may see that a condition or obstruction ahead might compel him to make an abrupt stop before the driver presses down on the brake pedal turning on the brake lights. Also the operator can encounter a situation that will require him to take evasive action without braking. Clearly, a devise is required on all motor vehicles to warn following drivers when the lead operator knows that he will soon have to brake or take aversive action that there is peril ahead for the trailing operators.

Driver reaction time for the drivers of the following cars can be brought down considerably when a 'prior braking sign' is incorporated. The system presented here accomplishes this by displaying a prior braking warning to vehicles behind when the driver in the lead vehicle even considers slowing down his vehicle and before he actually applies the brakes. The principle behind the system: A driver driving any standard motor vehicle moves away his foot from the accelerator pedal only when he would want to brake. Otherwise it is always rested on the accelerator pedal (in a non-cruise control vehicle).

This system displays a prior braking warning when the driver takes his foot off the accelerator pedal rather than displaying only a brake light when the brake pedal is depressed. The prior braking warning display comes on when the driver takes his foot off the accelerator pedal and continues until either the brake pedal is depressed or the accelerator pedal is pressed again. The warning display also comes on when the brakes are released and continues until either the brakes are pressed again or the accelerator pedal is depressed. This is to warn of the automobile's slowing down. In an automobile that has cruise control, the warning comes in when the "Coast" button is pressed. The display consists of dual colored LEDs. Orange LEDs blink when the foot is off the accelerator pedal and continue to blink until the brake is applied or when the foot is back on the accelerator pedal. In an automobile that features "Cruise control", after the control is enabled, the system is armed and when the relevant button in the cruise control system to slow down the vehicle is pressed , then the system displays a prior braking warning. For example, when the driver taps the "Coast" button of the Cruise control system to reduce his coasting speed, the system flashes the orange LEDs for a few seconds or until the set speed in the cruise control is reached. The flashing orange LEDs go off after a few seconds if the driver doesn't continue to decelerate, but continues to coast in the new speed. If the coast button is held down so as to slow down, the orange LEDs continue to flash until either the button is released or the brakes applied

One of the reasons for the decision to flash the orange LEDs is to aid persons with color vision impairment also to 'read' the pre-braking warning from the flashing LEDs.

The system is triggered only when the vehicle reaches a particular speed using a speed sensor 'X' (ex: 60 Kmph) as may be made standard by manufacturers or safety experts. The speed limit in the "Cruise control" is set by the "Cruise control" system. Most modern cars come with preexisting speed sensor data that can be harvested for use in the system.

The reason why speed limit is set is that because threat levels differ at various speeds.. Slower speeds may not ask for such alerts and drivers can become non reactive when provided with the alert in stop and go traffic conditions as in city traffic.

The complete system consists of the main unit; a dual color LED display (Orange and red), two switches A (Accelerator pedal) and B (Brake) and an input from a speed sensor X. The power to the device is from the automobile battery.

Now referring to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the brake pedal is shown by alphabet B and the accelerator pedal is shown by the alphabet A. The system comprises a circuit as illustrated in the figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 shows in detail the electronic components and the microchip of the system whereby when the driver of the lead vehicle moves away his foot from the accelerator pedal with an intention to apply brake to slow down or to stop the vehicle, the system is enabled to display a prior braking warning.

The display illustrated in figure 1 consists of dual colored LEDs. Orange LEDs blink when the foot is off the accelerator pedal (A) and continue to blink until the brake (B) is applied or when the foot is back on the accelerator pedal (A). The red light becomes on whenever the driver puts the brake pedal B.

Thus the system that takes various inputs from the driver of an automobile or other road machinery and displays a warning before the driver actually makes certain maneuvers thereby warning other drivers or pedestrians so that they can be better prepared and thus reduce their reaction times.

One of the application of the system can be well seen which relies on the idea of using a pre warning display sign in an automobile braking system and to a device that can be integrated into an existing electrical circuit and the conventional warning setup (standard stop lights) in an automobile and which displays a visual warning prior to a possible braking situation in the automobile before the conventional red stop lights come on thus reducing driver reaction times in vehicles following the automobile in which this device is installed. As prior art, there has only been a warning light when the brakes are already applied and the system which also warns that an automobile is slowing down (decelerating) even when the brakes have not been applied is having an edge over the conventional prior art systems of such nature.

As mentioned above, the power of the device is obtained from the automobile battery . The circuit layout as detailed in figure 2 and 3 are self explanatory regarding the associated specifications which are shown in the diagrams with full details.

This invention has other uses also when a driver feels that a vehicle is tailgating his/her vehicle, the system can be triggered voluntarily by taking the foot off the accelerator pedal to warn the driver behind.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY:

The present invention set forth herein above is of immense use in the automobile industry and as well as in safety measures available in automobiles to avoid collisions. Use of the invention in automobiles will reduce loss of lives and assets in collisions.

Claims

Claim:

1. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles , the system comprising an electronic unit adapted to be connected at one end to an accelerator pedal ( A) and a braking system (B) of the automobile , said electronic unit being connected to a display unit at the other end ,

Characterized in that,

Said display unit consists of dual colored LEDs having orange and red colors

Said electronic unit consists of an electronic circuit to enable the functioning of the display unit depending upon the inputs from the accelerator pedal ( A) and the brake pedal (B) , so that the Orange LEDs blink when the foot of the driver is off the accelerator pedal ( A) and continue to blink until the brake ( B ) is applied or until the foot of the driver is back on the accelerator pedal ( A ), the red LED becomes on when the driver puts the brakes pedal (B) , thereby the system enabling warning that an automobile is slowing down or decelerating even before the brakes are actually applied.

2. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic unit is connected to a speed sensor ( x) for avoiding various threat levels at various speeds.

3. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 wherein a switch is provided at the accelerator and / or brake pedal.

4. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system displays a warning light before the driver actually makes certain maneuvers thus warning other following drivers or pedestrians to be better prepared and thus reduce the reaction times.

5. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system is enabled in automobiles having both Cruise control system and non Cruise control system.

6. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system can be integrated into an existing electrical circuit and the conventional warning setup (standard stop lights) of an automobile to enable display of a visual warning prior to a possible braking situation in the automobile.

7. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system operates from the power obtained from the automobile battery.

8. A system for predictive alerts for collision aversion for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 , wherein operation of the system is a function of deceleration and braking actions of the automobile.