IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,296,824
Granted Patent B2
US 12,296,824 · App. 17/932,678 · Granted May 13, 2025

Cargo overhang system and method

Inventors: Aed M. Dudar (Canton, MI); Scott A. Bohr (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60W30/16B60W30/12B60W30/143B60W30/18163B60W2554/402B60W2554/4049B60W2756/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,296,824
App. No.
17/932,678
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method performed by a first vehicle may include receiving a message from a second vehicle regarding a cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle in which an object carried by the second vehicle extends beyond a perimeter or envelope of the second vehicle, and adjusting an operation of the first vehicle based upon the cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle.

Claims (24)

1. A system comprising a computer for a first vehicle, the computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

receive a message from a second vehicle, the message including a cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle in which an object carried by the second vehicle extends beyond a perimeter or envelope of the second vehicle; and

adjust an operation of the first vehicle based upon the cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle;

wherein the operation includes an adaptive cruise control and the instructions include instructions to adjust a follow distance of the adaptive cruise control and/or an acceleration or deceleration rate of the adaptive cruise control based on the cargo overhang condition.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions include instructions to adjust a parameter selected from a lane change setting of the adaptive cruise control, a sensitivity or activation distance of an emergency braking system, a sensitivity or distance of a lane keeping system, a sensitivity or distance of a rear cross traffic alert system, and/or a sensitivity or distance of a blind spot monitoring system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cargo overhang condition includes overhang dimensions in a length direction, in a width direction, and/or in a height direction.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions to visually identify the second vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions to visually identify the second vehicle includes instructions to detect flashing hazard lights of the second vehicle with a camera on the first vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions to detect flashing hazard lights of the second vehicle includes instructions to detect a code in a pattern of the flashing hazard lights.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message from the second vehicle is received at the first vehicle using a short-range vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message from the second vehicle is received at the second vehicle in a coded transmission from a controlled flashing of hazard lights on the second vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions to adjust the operation of the first vehicle are configured to operate when the first vehicle is behind or laterally adjacent to the second vehicle.

10. A method performed at a first vehicle comprising:

receiving a message from a second vehicle, the message including a cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle in which an object carried by the second vehicle extends beyond a perimeter or envelope of the second vehicle; and

adjusting an operation of the first vehicle based upon the cargo overhang condition of the second vehicle;

wherein the operation includes an adaptive cruise control and the instructions include instructions to adjust a follow distance of the adaptive cruise control and/or an acceleration or deceleration rate of the adaptive cruise control based on the cargo overhang condition.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the operation includes adjusting a parameter selected from a lane change setting of the adaptive cruise control, a sensitivity or activation distance of an emergency braking system, a sensitivity or distance of a lane keeping system, a sensitivity or distance of a rear cross traffic alert system, and/or a sensitivity or distance of a blind spot monitoring system.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cargo overhang condition includes overhang dimensions in a length direction, in a width direction, and/or in a height direction.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising visually identifying the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein visually identifying the second vehicle includes instructions to detect flashing hazard lights of the second vehicle with a camera on the first vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting flashing hazard lights of the second vehicle includes detecting a code in a pattern of the flashing hazard lights.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the message from the second vehicle is received at the first vehicle using a short-range vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the message from the second vehicle is received at the second vehicle in a coded transmission from a controlled flashing of hazard lights on the second vehicle.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the operation of the first vehicle operates when the first vehicle is behind or laterally adjacent to the second vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2022
From: DUDAR, AED M.; BOHR, SCOTT A.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061114/0326 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240092362A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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