EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLES
An emergency communication system for automated-vehicles includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver is used to communicate messages from and to an automated-vehicle that is classified as a non-emergency-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the transceiver. The controller is configured to receive a request for an emergency-certification from the automated-vehicle via the transceiver, determine when a circumstance exists that justifies the request, and grant the request when the circumstance exists. When the request is granted, the automated-vehicle is authorized to operate in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.
1 . An emergency communication system for automated-vehicles, said system comprising:
a transceiver used to communicate messages from and to an automated-vehicle that is classified as a non-emergency-vehicle;
a controller in communication with the transceiver, said controller configured to receive a request for an emergency-certification from the automated-vehicle via the transceiver, determine when a circumstance exists that justifies the request, and grant the request when the circumstance exists, whereby the automated-vehicle is authorized to operate in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.
2 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to demand traffic-signal-priority.
3 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to ignore a traffic-signal directed toward the automated-vehicle when the traffic-signal is red.
4 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to exceed a speed-limit.
5 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to inform other vehicles that the automated vehicle is operating in a manner comparable to an emergency-vehicle.
6 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the automated vehicle is equipped with an emergency-notification-device, and the emergency-certification authorizes the automated-vehicle to activate the emergency-notification-device.
7 . The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the emergency-certification expires when the automated-vehicle arrives at a predetermined destination.
8 . The system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the predetermined destination is a hospital.