AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND METHODS
Autonomous and manually operated vehicles are integrated into a cohesive, interactive environment, with communications to each other and to their surroundings, to improve traffic flow while reducing accidents and other incidents. All vehicles send/receive messages to/from each other, and from infrastructure devices, enabling the vehicles to determine their status, traffic conditions and infrastructure. The vehicles store and operate in accordance with a common set of rules based upon the messages received and other inputs from sensors, databases, and so forth, to avoid obstacles and collisions based upon current and, in some cases, future or predicted behavior. Shared vehicle control interfaces enable the AVs to conform to driving activities that are legal, safe, and allowable on roadways. Such activities enable each AV to drive within safety margins, speed limits, on allowed or legal driving lanes and through allowed turns, intersections, mergers, lane changes, stops/starts, and so forth.
1 . Tagging apparatus configured for use with a transportation system that manages the behavior of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and manually operated vehicles (MVs) sharing a common transportation environment, the tagging apparatus comprising:
a plurality of active, electronic tags, each being adapted to be worn or carried by pedestrians or moving objects within the transportation environment;
wherein each tag includes one or more sensors enabling the pedestrians and moving objects to determine their own location within the environment;
wherein each tag further includes a wireless communications interface; and
wherein the tags worn or carried by the pedestrians and objects send and receive messages to and from the AVs and the MVs enabling the AVs and MVs to determine the location of the pedestrian and objects for the purpose of collision avoidance.
2 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensors operative to provide self-location are based on GPS, inertial measurement, or a combination thereof.
3 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , including active, electronic tags that are wrist-worn by pedestrians.
4 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , including active, electronic tags that are pendant-worn by pedestrians.
5 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , including active, electronic tags that are incorporated into a cellular or smartphone.
6 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , including active, electronic tags that are permanent attached or implanted within objects that move within the environment.
7 . The tagging apparatus of claim 1 , including active, electronic tags worn or carried by pedestrians that include a human interface providing traffic status and notifications to the wearer.
8 . The object tagging device of claim 7 , wherein the traffic status and notifications to the wearer are visual.
9 . The object tagging device of claim 7 , wherein the traffic status and notifications to the wearer are audible.
10 . The object tagging device of claim 7 , wherein the traffic status and notifications to the wearer are tactile.
11 . The object tagging device of claim 1 , wherein:
the transportation system includes one or more infrastructure devices with sensors operative to detect vehicles entering, or within, an intersection; and
the infrastructure devices communicates the location of pedestrians or moving objects to the vehicles entering, or within, the intersection.
12 . The object tagging device of claim 11 , wherein the infrastructure devices are operative to control intersection light sequencing or directional light functions to improve traffic flow, avoid collisions, and assure pedestrian safety.