System and method for minimizing injury after a loss of control event

Abstract

A system for use with a motor vehicle that minimizes injury after a loss of control event. The motor vehicle has at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and an engine. The system includes a control which detects a loss of control event and automatically actuates a brake system and/or a steering system and/or commands an engine controller to reduce power output of an engine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for use with a motor vehicle having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, comprising: 
 a brake system for applying pressure to resist the rotation of the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel;    a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle and responsively producing a loss of control signal; and,    a controller for receiving the loss of control signal and automatically actuating the brake system.    
     
     
         2 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.  
     
     
         3 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels.  
     
     
         4 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the brake system is adapted to apply pressure to all front wheels and all rear wheels.  
     
     
         5 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to attempt to reorient the motor vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . A system, as set forth in  claim 5 , including a steering system for controllably steering the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel.  
     
     
         7 . A system, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the controller reorients the motor vehicle through application of the brake system and/or the steering system.  
     
     
         8 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , including an engine control system for controlling an engine.  
     
     
         9 . A system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the controller is adapted to reduce a power output of the engine in response to receiving the loss of control signal.  
     
     
         10 . A system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the engine control system includes a cruise-control function.  
     
     
         11 . A system, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the cruise-control function is cancelled in response to receipt of the loss of control signal.  
     
     
         12 . A system, as set forth in  claim 5 , including an energy absorbing structure.  
     
     
         13 . A system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the controller is adapted to reorient the motor vehicle such that the energy absorbing structure absorbs energy from a subsequent collision.  
     
     
         14 . A system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the controller is adapted to reorient the motor vehicle such that the energy absorbing structure is between passengers in the motor vehicle and objects within a path of the motor vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.  
     
     
         16 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is included in an air bag system.  
     
     
         17 . A system for use with a motor vehicle having an engine, comprising: 
 an engine control system for controlling the engine;    a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle and responsively producing a loss of control signal; and,    a controller for receiving the loss of control signal and signaling the engine control system to reduce power output of the engine.    
     
     
         18 . A system, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.  
     
     
         19 . A system, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the engine control system includes a cruise control function.  
     
     
         20 . A system, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the controller is adapted to signal the engine control system to disable the cruise control function.  
     
     
         21 . A system, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the controller is integrated with the engine control system.  
     
     
         22 . A system, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer.  
     
     
         23 . A system, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is included in an air bag system.  
     
     
         24 . A method for use with a motor vehicle having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and a brake system for applying pressure to resist the rotation of the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel, the method comprising: 
 detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle;    automatically actuating the brake system in response to detecting the loss of control event.    
     
     
         25 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.  
     
     
         26 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , including the step of apply pressure to all front wheels and all rear wheels.  
     
     
         27 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , including the step of attempting to automatically attempting to reorient the motor vehicle in response to detecting the loss of control event.  
     
     
         28 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the motor vehicle includes a steering system for controllably steering the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel.  
     
     
         29 . A method, as set forth in  claim 28 , including the step of reorienting the motor vehicle through application of the brake system and/or the steering system after the loss of control event has occurred.  
     
     
         30 . A method, as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine control system for controllably actuating an engine.  
     
     
         31 . A method, as set forth in  claim 30 , including the step of reducing power output of the engine in response to detecting the occurrence of the loss of control event.  
     
     
         32 . A method, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the engine control system includes a cruise-control function.  
     
     
         33 . A method, as set forth in  claim 32 , including the step of canceling the cruise-control function in response to detecting the occurrence of the loss of control event.  
     
     
         34 . A method, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the motor vehicle includes an energy absorbing structure.  
     
     
         35 . A method, as set forth in  claim 34 , including the step of reorienting the motor vehicle such that the energy absorbing structure absorbs energy from a subsequent collision after the occurrence of a loss of control event has been detected.  
     
     
         36 . A method, as set forth in  claim 34 , including the step of reorienting the motor vehicle such that the energy absorbing structure is between passengers in the motor vehicle and objects within a path of the motor vehicle after the occurrence of a loss of control event has been detected.  
     
     
         37 . A method for use with a motor vehicle having an engine and an engine control for controlling the engine, including the steps of: 
 detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle; and,    signaling the engine control system to reduce power output of the engine in response to detecting the occurrence of the loss of control event.    
     
     
         38 . A method, as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.  
     
     
         39 . A method, as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the engine control system includes a cruise control function.  
     
     
         40 . A method, as set forth in  claim 39 , including the step of signaling the engine control system to disable the cruise control function in response to detecting the occurrence of the loss of control event.  
     
     
         41 . A system for use with a motor vehicle having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, comprising: 
 a steering system for controllably steering the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel;    a sensor for detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle and responsively producing a loss of control signal; and,    a controller for receiving the loss of control signal and automatically actuating the steering system.    
     
     
         42 . A system, as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.  
     
     
         43 . A method for use with a motor vehicle having at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and a steering system for controllably steering the at least one front wheel and/or the at least one rear wheel, the method comprising: 
 detecting an occurrence of a loss of control event of the motor vehicle; and,    automatically actuating the steering system in response to detecting the loss of control event.    
     
     
         44 . A method, as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the loss of control event is a collision.