METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE CONTROL HAZARD DETECTION
A system for hazard identification and mitigation in a vehicle is provided. The system may include a hazard signal reception unit configured to receive remote-origin signals indicative of an approaching hazard, such as an oncoming train. The system may be configured to determine an appropriate hazard mitigation action and to implement the hazard mitigation action to reduce potential danger to the vehicle.
1 . An in-vehicle control system for detecting and mitigating hazards, the system comprising:
an actuator system configured to provide control of the vehicle;
a controller configured to control the actuator system;
a hazard detection unit configured to receive a hazard signal and generate hazard information indicating a hazard based on the hazard signal; and
a computer system,
wherein the hazard detection unit is configured to transmit the hazard information indicating the hazard to the computer system, and
the computer system is configured to determine a hazard mitigation action in response to the hazard information, and transmit a control signal to the controller to cause the actuator system to perform the hazard mitigation action.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hazard includes a train and the hazard signal is received from at least one of a train information database, the train, or a switch system associated with a railroad crossing.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer system is further configured to determine whether a current route of the vehicle will intersect with a current route of the train and to determine the hazard mitigation action in response to the determination whether the current route of the vehicle will intersect with the current route of the train.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal includes at least one of a Bluetooth signal, a Wi-Fi signal, an RFID signal, or a cellular signal.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hazard detection unit includes at least one of a Bluetooth signal receiver, a Wi-Fi signal receiver, an RFID signal receiver, a cellular signal receiver, a LIDAR unit, a radar unit, a camera, an ultrasonic detector, and a microphone.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hazard mitigation action includes alerting a driver of the vehicle.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator system is configured to perform acceleration in response to the control signal to perform a hazard mitigation action.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator system is configured to perform deceleration in response to the control signal to perform a hazard mitigation action.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator system is configured to perform deceleration to a stop in response to the control signal to perform a hazard mitigation action.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hazard mitigation action includes rerouting of the vehicle.
11 . A method of hazard detection and mitigation performed by systems of a vehicle, the systems including an actuator system providing control of the vehicle, a controller configured to control the actuator system, a hazard detection unit and a computer system, the method comprising:
determining, by the hazard detection unit, hazard information indicating a hazard based on a received hazard signal;
transmitting, by the hazard detection unit, the hazard information indicating the hazard to the computer system;
determining, by the computer system, a hazard mitigation action in response to the hazard information; and
transmitting, by the computer system, a control signal to the controller to cause the actuator system to perform the hazard mitigation action.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the received hazard signal includes at least one of a Bluetooth signal, Wi-Fi signal, an RFID signal, or a cellular signal.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hazard includes a train and the hazard signal is received by the hazard detection unit from at least one of a train information database, an approaching train, or a switch system associated with a railroad crossing.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining whether a current route of the vehicle will intersect with a current route of the train and determining the hazard mitigation action in response to the determination whether the current route of the vehicle will intersect with the current route of the train.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hazard detection unit includes at least one of a Bluetooth signal receiver, a Wi-Fi signal receiver, an RFID signal receiver, a cellular signal receiver, a LIDAR unit, a radar unit, a camera, an ultrasonic detector, and a microphone.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the hazard mitigation action includes alerting a driver of the vehicle.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the control signal to the actuator system includes transmitting a control signal instructing the actuator system to perform acceleration as a hazard mitigation action.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the control signal to the actuator system includes transmitting a control signal instructing the actuator system to perform deceleration as a hazard mitigation action.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the control signal to the actuator system includes transmitting a control signal instructing the actuator system to perform deceleration to a stop as a hazard mitigation action.
20 . A method of hazard detection and mitigation performed by systems of a vehicle, the systems including an actuator system providing control of the vehicle, a controller configured to control the actuator system, and a computer system, the method comprising:
receiving a wireless signal indicating a hazard;
determining, by the computer system, a hazard mitigation action in response to the hazard information; and
transmitting, by the computer system, a control signal to the controller to cause the actuator system to perform the hazard mitigation action.