IP Library Granted Patent US 12679411
Granted Patent B2
US 12679411 · App. 18/057,754 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Computer-based management of accident prevention in autonomous vehicles

Inventors: Fang Lu (Billerica, MA); Jeremy R. Fox (Georgetown, TX); Tushar Agrawal (West Fargo, ND); Sarbajit K. Rakshit (Kolkata, IN)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
B60W60/0015B60W30/09B60W2556/10B60W2556/45G16Y20/10G16Y40/30G16Y40/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679411
App. No.
18/057,754
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an approach to improve improving impact prevention in both manual and autonomous vehicles embodiments of the present invention generate a knowledge corpus based on data collected, from one or more internet of thing (IoT) sensors, associated with one or more predetermined risk factors of one or more predefined risks over time. Further, embodiments receive from the one or more IoT sensors input data to observe a vertical space above a vehicle and identify an object in a predetermined area based on the received input data and the knowledge corpus. Additionally, utilize the knowledge corpus and the input data to generate a risk score for the identified object and responsive to the risk score being above a predetermined threshold, embodiments issue a command for the vehicle to continue to drive or to progress to a predetermined safe zone.

Claims (63)

1 . A computer-implemented method for improving impact prevention in autonomous vehicles, the computer-implemented method comprising:

generating a knowledge corpus based on data collected, from one or more internet of thing (IoT) sensors, associated with one or more predetermined risk factors of one or more predefined risks over time;

receiving, from the one or more IoT sensors, input data to observe a vertical space above a vehicle;

identifying an object in a predetermined area based on the input data and the knowledge corpus;

updating an electronic risk map with the object and vulnerability characteristics, associated with the object, derived from the knowledge corpus;

utilizing the knowledge corpus, the electronic risk map, and the input data to generate a risk score for the identified object; and

responsive to the risk score being above a predetermined threshold, issuing a command for the vehicle to continue to progress to a predetermined safe zone.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving permission to track and monitor the vehicle.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking, by the one or more IoT sensors, the object in the predetermined area.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

instructing the vehicle to autonomously move to the predetermined safe zone.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

dynamically adjusting the risk score and quantification of the risk score based on a received change to the object, the vertical space, or the predetermined area.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

monitoring, by the one or more IoT sensors, a change in ground vibration pattern and to historically learned data related to soil, ground vibration, wind, tree age, and tree fall history.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,

identifying one or more objects that line a roadside of a current road that the vehicle is traveling; and

identifying a potential risk of the one or more objects impacting the vehicle.

8 . A computer system for improving impact prevention in autonomous vehicles, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage devices;

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to generate a knowledge corpus based on data collected, from one or more internet of thing (IoT) sensors, associated with one or more predetermined risk factors of one or more predefined risks over time;

program instructions to receive, from the one or more IoT sensors, input data to observe a vertical space above a vehicle;

program instructions to identify an object in a predetermined area based on the input data and the knowledge corpus;

program instructions to update an electronic risk map with the object and vulnerability characteristics, associated with the object, derived from the knowledge corpus;

program instructions to utilize the knowledge corpus, the electronic risk map, and the input data to generate a risk score for the identified object; and

responsive to the risk score being above a predetermined threshold, program instructions to issue a command for the vehicle to continue to progress to a predetermined safe zone.

9 . The computer system of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to receive permission to track and monitor the vehicle.

10 . The computer system of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to track, by the one or more IoT sensors, the object in the predetermined area.

11 . The computer system of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to instruct the vehicle to autonomously move to the predetermined safe zone.

12 . The computer system of claim 8 , further comprising:

program instructions to dynamically adjust the risk score and quantification of the risk score based on a received change to the object, the vertical space, or the predetermined area.

13 . The computer system of claim 12 , further comprising:

program instructions to monitor, by the one or more IoT sensors, a change in ground vibration pattern and to historically learned data related to soil, ground vibration, wind, tree age, and tree fall history.

14 . The computer system of claim 8 ,

program instructions to identify one or more objects that line a roadside of a current road that the vehicle is traveling; and

program instructions to identify a potential risk of the one or more objects that might damage the vehicle.

15 . A computer program product for improving impact prevention in autonomous vehicles, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage devices, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to generate a knowledge corpus based on data collected, from one or more internet of thing (IoT) sensors, associated with one or more predetermined risk factors of one or more predefined risks over time;

program instructions to receive, from the one or more IoT sensors, input data to observe a vertical space above a vehicle;

program instructions to identify an object in a predetermined area based on the input data and the knowledge corpus;

program instructions to update an electronic risk map with the object and vulnerability characteristics, associated with the object, derived from the knowledge corpus;

program instructions to utilize the knowledge corpus, the electronic risk map, and the input data to generate a risk score for the identified object; and

responsive to the risk score being above a predetermined threshold, program instructions to issue a command for the vehicle to continue to progress to a predetermined safe zone.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising:

program instructions to receive permission to track and monitor the vehicle.

17 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising:

program instructions to track, by the one or more IoT sensors, the object in the predetermined area.

18 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising:

program instructions to instruct the vehicle to autonomously move to the predetermined safe zone.

19 . The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising:

program instructions to dynamically adjust the risk score and quantification of the risk score based on a received change to the object, the vertical space, or the predetermined area; and

program instructions to monitor, by the one or more IoT sensors, a change in ground vibration pattern and to historically learned data related to soil, ground vibration, wind, tree age, and tree fall history.

20 . The computer program product of claim 15 ,

program instructions to identify one or more objects that line a roadside of a current road that the vehicle is traveling; and

program instructions to identify a potential risk of the one or more objects that might damage the vehicle.