U.S. patent application number 10/355688 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for pre-crash assessment of crash severity for road vehicles.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Altan, Osman D., Browne, Alan Lampe, Wood, Francis D..
Application Number | 20030139867 10/355688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25126126 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030139867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Browne, Alan Lampe ; et
al. |
July 24, 2003 |
Pre-crash assessment of crash severity for road vehicles
Abstract
A method of pre-crash prediction of the severity of an imminent
crash of road vehicles is disclosed using a pre-crash sensor, a
computer system coupled with pre-crash vehicle condition signal
sources and a vehicle communication system onboard each of two
vehicles involved in a crash. The method includes the steps of
determining that a collision of the vehicles is imminent,
exchanging vehicle crash-related information between the vehicles
when an imminent collision is determined, computing crash-defining
information onboard each vehicle and predicting onboard each
vehicle the severity of the imminent collision whereby occupant
protection devices of the vehicles may be deployed in accordance
with the predicted severity.
Inventors: |
Browne, Alan Lampe; (Grosse
Pointe, MI) ; Wood, Francis D.; (Detroit, MI)
; Altan, Osman D.; (Bloomfield Hills, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KATHRYN A. MARRA
General Motors Corporation
Legal Staff, Mail Code 482-C23-B21
P.O. Box 300
Detroit
MI
48265-3000
US
|
Assignee: |
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
25126126 |
Appl. No.: |
10/355688 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10355688 |
Jan 31, 2003 |
|
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09782461 |
Jan 22, 2001 |
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6571161 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/45 ; 180/271;
280/735; 340/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 13/86 20130101;
G01S 2013/932 20200101; G01S 13/87 20130101; B60R 21/0134 20130101;
G01S 2013/9322 20200101; B60R 21/013 20130101; B60R 2021/01088
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/45 ; 280/735;
180/271; 340/436 |
International
Class: |
B60R 021/32 |
Claims
1. A method of predicting the severity of an imminent collision of
two vehicles which are closing on each other, said method
comprising the steps of: determining that a collision of the
vehicles is imminent, exchanging vehicle crash-related information
between the vehicles when an imminent collision is determined, said
crash-related information including vehicle crash information
including vehicle crash characteristics information, computing
crash-defining information onboard each vehicle based upon the
crash-related information exchanged between the vehicles, and
predicting onboard each vehicle the severity of the imminent
collision based upon the computed crash-defining information
whereby occupant protection devices of the vehicles may be deployed
in accordance with the predicted severity.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein: said crash-related
information includes vehicle operating condition information.
3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein: said step of exchanging
vehicle crash-related information is performed by obtaining
selected vehicle operating condition information from a global
positioning system.
4. A method as defined by claim 1 wherein: said step of determining
that a collision of the vehicles is imminent is performed by a
pre-crash sensor.
5. A method as defined by claim 1 wherein: said step of exchanging
vehicle crash-related information is performed by an
electromagnetic wave communication system onboard said vehicle.
6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein: said step of computing
crash-defining information is performed by an onboard computer
system.
7. A method of predicting the severity of an imminent collision of
a vehicle with another object, said method comprising the steps of:
determining that a collision of the vehicle and the object is
imminent, determining, onboard the vehicle, crash characteristics
of the object when an imminent collision is determined, computing
crash-defining information onboard the vehicle based upon the crash
characteristics of the object and the vehicle, and predicting
onboard the vehicle the severity of the imminent collision based
upon said crash-defining information whereby occupant protection
devices of the vehicle may be deployed in accordance with the
predicted severity.
8. A method of controlling the occupant protection devices in each
of two road vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:
determining whether the two vehicles are closing on each other, if
they are closing on each other, determining whether collision of
the two vehicles is imminent, if a collision is imminent,
transmitting from one vehicle its crash-related information to the
other vehicle and transmitting from said other vehicle its
crash-related information to said one vehicle, processing, onboard
said one vehicle, the crash-related information of both vehicles to
predict the severity of the imminent collision and controlling the
occupant protection devices on said one vehicle in accordance with
the prediction, and processing, onboard said other vehicle, the
crash-related information for both vehicles to predict the severity
of the imminent collision and controlling the occupant protection
devices on said other vehicle in accordance with the
prediction.
9. Apparatus for use onboard a road vehicle for controlling the
deployment of occupant protection devices on the vehicle, said
apparatus comprising: means for determining whether the vehicle is
closing on another vehicle and for producing a warning signal when
a collision of the two vehicles is imminent, means responsive to
the warning signal for transmitting crash-related information to
the other vehicle, means for receiving crash-related information
from the other vehicle, and computer means for processing said
crash-related information from both vehicles for predicting the
severity of the imminent collision and for controlling deployment
of the occupant protection devices in accordance with the
prediction.
10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: said means for
determining comprises a pre-crash sensor.
11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: said means responsive
to the warning signal for transmitting crash-related information
comprises an electromagnetic-wave transmitter.
12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: said means for
receiving crash-related information comprises an
electromagnetic-wave receiver.
13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: said computer means
comprises a pre-crash processing computer and a vehicle dynamics
computer coupled together.
14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 comprising: a computer
readable memory device for storing information related to the
crashworthiness of the vehicle, said memory device being coupled
with said computer means.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 comprising: plural vehicle
condition sensors for producing plural vehicle condition-defining
signals relating to the operating condition of the vehicle, said
sensors being coupled with said computer system.
16. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 comprising: a global
positioning system coupled with said computer system for developing
position, heading and speed signals of the vehicle.
17. Apparatus for use onboard a first road vehicle for controlling
the deployment of occupant protection devices on the first road
vehicle, as defined in claim 9, in combination with additional
apparatus onboard a second road vehicle for controlling the
deployment of occupant protection devices on the second vehicle,
said additional apparatus comprising: means for determining whether
the vehicle is closing on another vehicle and for producing a
warning signal when a collision of the two vehicles is imminent,
means responsive to the warning signal for transmitting
crash-related information to the other vehicle, means for receiving
crash-related information from the other vehicle, and computer
means for processing said crash-related information from both
vehicles for predicting the severity of the imminent collision and
for controlling deployment of the occupant protection devices in
accordance with the prediction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. Pat.
Ser. No. 09/782,461, filed on Jan. 22, 2001, which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to pre-crash warning systems for road
vehicles. More particularly, it relates to a system for robustly
assessing the expected severity of an impending crash of two
vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In currently-available pre-crash warning systems for road
vehicles, the safety benefits are limited because such systems do
not provide sufficient information about the object in the path of
the vehicle to reliably predict the severity of an imminent crash.
For example, currently-available systems cannot distinguish between
two vehicles which are about the same size but which have
significantly different mass and hence have critically different
crash characteristics. Consequently, the safety benefits of such
pre-crash warning systems are limited to (1) pre-arming of
non-resettable devices, such as airbags, so that they can be
deployed more rapidly in cases where the subsequent collision is
sufficiently severe to warrant deployment, and (2) triggering
non-aggressive resettable safety devices that do not interfere with
the vehicle driving function, such as extendible/retractable
bumpers and extendible/retractable knee bolster systems. There is a
need for pre-crash warning systems which not only give warning of
an imminent crash but also predict the severity of the crash.
[0004] In the prior art, the Sekine U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,311 granted
Aug. 13, 1996 describes an intercommunication system for vehicles
which supplies speed and direction information for the purpose of
collision avoidance.
[0005] Other prior art patents relating to collision avoidance
systems are Blowney et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,354 granted Jul. 9,
1963; Gilon et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,474 granted Nov. 4, 1997 and
Giovanni U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,367 granted Nov. 24, 1998.
[0006] The known prior art does not disclose a system for
exchanging critical vehicle crash-defining information between two
vehicles in an imminent crash situation, predicting the severity of
the crash and controlling occupant protection devices in accordance
with the prediction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with this invention, a system is provided
which predicts the severity of an imminent collision of two
vehicles based upon robust crash-defining information about both
vehicles.
[0008] Further, in accordance with the invention, the robust
crash-defining information about both vehicles is developed after
the collision becomes inevitable and imminent. Further, the
prediction of crash severity is developed in time so that occupant
safety devices can be deployed in accordance with the predicted
crash severity.
[0009] Further, in accordance with this invention, road vehicles
are provided with pre-crash warning systems with automatic means
for exchanging critical vehicle crash information between two
vehicles when a collision between the two vehicles is determined to
be inevitable and imminent. The critical information is used to
deploy non-reversible and reversible safety systems when a
collision is imminent.
[0010] Further, in accordance with this invention, a method of
predicting the severity of an imminent collision of two vehicles is
provided whereby occupant protection devices of the vehicles may be
deployed in accordance with the predicted severity. The method
comprises the steps of determining that a collision of the vehicles
is imminent, exchanging vehicle crash-related information between
the vehicles, computing crash-defining information onboard each
vehicle based upon the crash-related information and predicting
onboard each vehicle the severity of the imminent collision based
upon the computed crash-defining information.
[0011] Further, in accordance with this invention, apparatus for
use onboard a road vehicle is provided for predicting the severity
of an imminent collision and for controlling deployment of occupant
protection devices in accordance with the prediction. The apparatus
comprises means for determining whether the vehicle is closing on
another vehicle and for producing a warning signal when a collision
of the two vehicles is imminent, means responsive to the warning
signal for transmitting crash-related information to the other
vehicle, means for receiving crash-related information from the
other vehicle, and computer means for processing said crash-related
information from both vehicles and for predicting the severity of
the collision, whereby the occupant protection devices may be
deployed in accordance with the severity.
[0012] Further, in accordance with this invention, the critical
information is exchanged between the two vehicles by means such as
electromagnetic, optical or ultrasonic systems. Alternatively, the
critical information is exchanged by use of satellite-based systems
or by use of radio transceiver or transponder systems.
[0013] A complete understanding of this invention may be obtained
from the detailed description that follows taken with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram which shows a crash
severity prediction system installed in a first road vehicle,
and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a crash severity
prediction system which is identical to that of FIG. 1 but is
installed in a second road vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an
illustrative embodiment of the invention which is adapted for use
in controlling the deployment of passenger protection devices in
land vehicles. It will be appreciated, as the description proceeds,
that the invention is useful in a wide variety of applications and
may be implemented in many different ways.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of a crash severity
prediction system 10A which is installed in a vehicle A, and FIG. 2
is block diagram of an identical crash severity prediction system
10B installed in vehicle B. The crash severity prediction system
10A will be described with reference to FIG. 1; the description is
applicable also to the crash severity prediction system 10B. The
corresponding components of systems 10A and 10B are identified by
the same reference characters except that a prime symbol is added
to the reference characters in system 10B.
[0018] General Description of the Crash Severity Prediction
System
[0019] An overview of the crash severity prediction system 10A will
be given before the system is described in detail. The system 10A
comprises, in general, a computer system 2, a pre-crash sensor 12
and a communication system 6 which communicates with vehicle B. The
pre-crash sensor 12 supplies the computer system 2 with closing
speed, range and, optionally, the angle of approach between
vehicles A and B. The computer system 2 also receives crash-related
vehicle information including vehicle crash characteristics,
vehicle speed, heading and the operating status of the brakes,
steering wheel and the like, which are referred to collectively as
pre-crash vehicle condition signals 4. The computer system 2
predicts the severity of an imminent crash based upon the signals
received from the pre-crash sensor 12 and the signals 4. It also
develops control signals for occupant protection devices 16.
[0020] The computer system 2 comprises a vehicle dynamics computer
20 and a pre-crash processing computer 14. The vehicle dynamics
computer 20 receives the pre-crash vehicle condition signals 4 and
operates on the signals to develop vehicle A condition-defining
signals 17. Also, the vehicle dynamics computer 20 receives vehicle
B condition-defining signals 17' via the vehicle A communication
system 6. The vehicle dynamics computer 20 processes the vehicle A
and vehicle B condition-defining signals 17 and 17' to develop
vehicle A crash-defining data signals 21 which are applied to the
pre-crash processing computer 14.
[0021] The pre-crash processing computer 14 receives a pre-crash
warning signal 13 from the pre-crash sensor 12 and generates an
alert or handshake signal 27 to initiate communication with vehicle
B. The pre-crash processing computer 14 processes the
crash-defining data signals 21 to assess the severity of the
impending collision and to generate control signals 15 for
controlling deployment of the occupant protection devices 16.
[0022] The communication system 6 of vehicle A comprises
transmitter 28 for transmitting signals to vehicle B and comprises
receiver 24 for receiving signals from vehicle B. Preferably, the
transmitter and receiver operate in the manner of either a
transceiver or a transponder.
[0023] Description of Individual Stages
[0024] The individual stages of crash-sensing prediction system 10A
will now be described further in regard to function and
implementation. Since the required functions of each individual
stage can be realized by known designs using readily-available
components, details of circuitry and structure will not be given.
However, it will be helpful to provide further description,
especially in respect to the function of each individual stage and
the functional relationship among the different stages.
[0025] Pre-Crash Sensor
[0026] The pre-crash sensor 12 in the illustrative embodiment of
FIG. 1 develops closing speed and range signals and, optionally,
the angle of approach between vehicles A and B.
[0027] These signals are used to produce the pre-crash warning
signal 13 when the sensed conditions indicate that a crash of the
vehicles A and B is imminent. The pre-crash warning signal is
applied to the pre-crash processing computer 14.
[0028] The pre-crash sensor 12 is suitably a collision-sensing
system of the type using radar or lidar or of the type using
ultrasonics. The collision-sensing system itself must be capable of
measurements in the near range of 0 to 20 meters for use in
assessing crash severity. Radar systems in the 20 GHz range or
higher, lidar systems, and also ultrasonic systems are known having
this capability.
[0029] Pre-Crash Processing Computer
[0030] The pre-crash computer 14 is a digital computer which
computes an assessment of the severity of an imminent collision
based upon crash-defining data signals 21 from the vehicle dynamics
computer 20 which represent the relative speed, angle and location
of impact, energy levels of the vehicles and, if available, crush
forces associated with those locations of impact. Based upon the
data signals 21, the pre-crash processing computer 14 computes a
prediction of the severity of an imminent crash and produces
control signals 15 for controlling actuation of occupant protection
devices 16 which may include but are not limited to airbags, seat
belts, extendible/retractable bumpers and knee bolsters.
[0031] The pre-crash processing computer 14 is operative in
response to the pre-crash warning signal 13 from the pre-crash
sensor 12 to generate a handshake signal 27 which is applied to the
transmitter 28 for transmission to vehicle B. This initiates
transmission from vehicle B of a return handshake signal 27'
(generated by the pre-crash processing computer 14') to vehicle A
which is supplied by the receiver 24 to the pre-crash processing
computer 14. Upon receipt of the return handshake signal, the
vehicle dynamics computer 20 is activated to exchange vehicle
condition-defining signals 17 and 17' with vehicle dynamics
computer 20'.
[0032] Vehicle Dynamics Computer
[0033] The vehicle dynamics computer 20 is a digital computer which
receives the pre-crash vehicle condition signals 4 and develops the
crash-defining data signals 21 which are supplied to the pre-crash
processing computer 14. The pre-crash vehicle condition signals 4
are supplied from a vehicle identification read only memory (ROM)
26, onboard sensors 24 and, optionally, a global positioning system
(GPS) 17. The information obtained from these sources taken with
that from the pre-crash sensor is sufficient for the vehicle
dynamics computer 20 to develop the vehicle A condition-defining
signals 17.
[0034] The vehicle A condition-defining signals 17 are applied to
transmitter 28 which transmits the signals to the receiver 24' of
vehicle B and thence the signals 17 are applied to the vehicle
dynamics computer 20'.
[0035] Vehicle dynamics computer 20 also receives the vehicle B
condition-defining signals 17' which are transmitted from vehicle B
and applied to the receiver 24 and thence to the vehicle dynamics
computer 20. The vehicle B condition-defining signals 17' contain
crash-related information of the same type as that which is
contained in the vehicle A condition-defining signals 17.
[0036] The vehicle dynamics computer 20 processes the vehicle
condition-defining signals 17 and 17' of vehicles A and B and
develops the crash-defining data signals 21 representing the
relative speed, energy levels of the two vehicles, location of
impact and, subject to data availability, crush forces that will be
generated at such locations.
[0037] Pre-Crash Vehicle Condition Signals
[0038] The pre-crash vehicle condition signals 4 in the
illustrative embodiment are supplied from the vehicle
identification read only memory (ROM) 26, onboard sensors 22 and
optionally a global positioning system 18.
[0039] The vehicle identification ROM 26 defines characteristics of
vehicle A related to the crashworthiness of the vehicle. Such
characteristics may include mass, dimensions and crash pulse of the
vehicle. Vehicle identification signals 25 are read from the ROM 26
into the vehicle dynamics computer 20.
[0040] The global positioning system 18 is the On-Star.TM. system
(made by General Motors Corporation) or equivalent and supplies
vehicle condition defining signals 19 which enable the vehicle
dynamics computer to develop position, heading and speed of the
vehicle.
[0041] The on-board sensors 22 in the illustrative embodiment
supply the vehicle dynamics computer 20 with signals 23
representing speed, acceleration, yaw rate, steering wheel
position, braking status, throttle position, and transmission
status.
[0042] The Communication System
[0043] In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the
communication system 6 comprises receiver 24 and transmitter 28.
The receiver 24 and the transmitter 28 are preferably coupled in a
manner so as to operate as a transceiver with the common antenna
30. The transmitter 28 receives signals 27 from the pre-crash
processing computer 14 and also receives signals 17 from the
vehicle dynamics computer 20 and transmits output signals 29 which
are received by the receiver 24' of the crash severity prediction
system 10B of vehicle B. The input signals to the transmitter 28
include the handshake signal 27 and the vehicle A
condition-defining signal 17 from the vehicle dynamics computer 20.
The receiver 24 is adapted to receive input signals including a
handshake signal and the condition-defining signal 17' transmitted
by the crash severity prediction system 10B of vehicle B. The
process of exchanging information must be accomplished within a
matter of milliseconds, such as a period of 10 to 20
milliseconds.
[0044] In an alternative communication system (not shown),
information is exchanged between vehicles using the pre-crash
sensor 12 and modulating its emitted carrier wave to represent the
information to be exchanged.
[0045] As another alternative, exchanging information between the
vehicles can be done, once an imminent collision has been detected,
by using satellite-based systems such as the On-Star.TM.
system.
[0046] Another alternative is a transponder system using a
frequency band exclusively reserved for vehicle crash safety
systems. In a transponder system, information is exchanged by a
signal transmission from one vehicle to the other which triggers
the automatic return of a signal transmission by a transponder on
the other vehicle.
[0047] Occupant Protection Devices
[0048] The occupant protection devices 16 include but are not
limited to non-resettable devices such as air bags and resettable
safety devices such as extendable and retractable bumpers and
extendable and retractable knee bolster systems. The timing and
extent of deployment of each of these devices is controlled by
control signals 15.
[0049] Operation of the Crash Severity Prediction System
[0050] It will be understood that the benefits of this invention
cannot be realized unless both vehicles involved in an impending
collision are equipped with the crash severity prediction system.
Accordingly, the operation will now be described in the situation
in which the two vehicles A and B are involved.
[0051] In the case where the two vehicles A and B are closing on
each other, it will be assumed that the pre-crash sensor 12 of
vehicle A is the first to transmit a pre-crash warning signal 13
when a crash of the vehicles is imminent. The pre-crash processing
computer 14 supplies a handshake signal 27 to the transmitter 28,
and the signal is detected by the receiver 24' of vehicle B. This
causes the transmitter 28' of vehicle B to send a return handshake
signal 27' which is detected by receiver 24 of vehicle A and
applied to the pre-crash processing computer 14. This establishes
communication between the vehicles with vehicle A having preempted
the initiation of information exchange between them. The vehicle
dynamics computer 20 of vehicle A responds to the return handshake
signal by applying the vehicle A condition-defining signals 17 to
the transmitter 28 which sends it to vehicle B which, in turn,
applies the signal to the vehicle dynamics computer 20' of vehicle
B. Immediately after vehicle B sends the return handshake signal,
it also sends the vehicle B condition-defining signals 17' to
vehicle A which applies those signals to the vehicle dynamics
computer 20.
[0052] The vehicle dynamics computer 20 of vehicle A processes the
vehicle A and vehicle B condition-defining signals 17 and 17' and
develops the crash-defining data signals 21 which are applied to
the pre-crash processing computer 14 of vehicle A. The pre-crash
processing computer 14 processes the crash-defining data signals 21
to predict the severity of the imminent crash and to develop
control signals 15 which determine the timing and extent of
deployment of the associated occupant protection devices 16.
Similarly, in vehicle B, the vehicle dynamics computer 20'
processes the vehicle A condition-defining signals 17 and the
vehicle B condition-defining signals 17' and develops the
crash-defining data signals 21' which are applied to the pre-crash
computer 14'. The pre-crash processing computer 14' predicts the
severity of the imminent crash and develops the control signals 15'
which determine the timing and extent of deployment of the
associated occupant protection devices 16'.
[0053] Conclusion
[0054] A method of and apparatus for predicting the severity of an
imminent collision of two vehicles is described above. The
prediction of severity is early enough so that the timing and
extent of deployment of occupant protection devices can be
controlled in accordance with the predicted crash severity.
[0055] Although the description of this invention has been given in
reference to a particular embodiment, it is not to be construed in
a limiting sense. Many variations and modifications of the
invention will now occur to those skilled in the art. For a
definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended
claims.
* * * * *