Communication based vehicle-pedestrian collision warning system

Abstract

A system and method for detecting a collision is provided. The system includes a system vehicle equipped with onboard equipment directed towards gathering vehicle information necessary to predict the path of the vehicle, a roadside infrastructure having a plurality of roadside sensors selectively distributed throughout the infrastructure so as to detect objects and gather information about the detected objects necessary to predict the path of the detected objects. A path predicting circuit is in communication with the system vehicle and the roadside infrastructure. The path predicting circuit processes information from the system vehicle and roadside infrastructure to predict the path of the system vehicle and detected objects. The path predicting circuit is in communication with a path collision circuit and the predicted paths are mapped on the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle may possibly collide with a detected object.

1 . A system for predicting vehicle collision comprising:
 a system vehicle including a velocity sensor, and a location sensor for detecting the velocity and location of the system vehicle;   a roadside infrastructure having a predetermined range and including a plurality of roadside sensors selectively distributed throughout the infrastructure, wherein each of the plurality of roadside sensors detect the velocity and location of an object;   a path predicting circuit in communication with the system vehicle and the roadside infrastructure, wherein the path predicting circuit predicts the path of the system vehicle and the path of objects detected within the roadside infrastructure;   a path collision circuit in communication with the path predicting circuit, wherein the predicted paths of the system vehicle and the object are mapped onto the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle and the object may collide; and   a transmitting device for communicating with the system vehicle, wherein the transmitting device transmits a warning to the system vehicle when a collision is predicted.   
   
   
       2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a roadside alert mechanism in communication with the transmitting device, the roadside alert mechanism alerting pedestrians when a collision is predicted. 
   
   
       3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of roadside sensors includes at least one camera selectively disposed within the roadside infrastructure for detecting objects, and wherein each of the at least one camera is in communication with the path predicting circuit. 
   
   
       4 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of roadside sensors may optionally include at least one radar sensor selectively distributed throughout the roadside infrastructure for detecting the speed and direction of detected objects, and wherein each of the at least one optional radar sensors is in communication with the path predicting circuit. 
   
   
       5 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each of the at least one camera is coupled with one of the at least one radar sensors. 
   
   
       6 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of roadside sensors may optionally include at least one sonar sensor selectively disposed within the roadside infrastructure for detecting the speed and direction of detected objects, and each of the at least one optional sonar sensors is in communication with the path predicting circuit. 
   
   
       7 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , further including a fusion circuit in communication with each of the at least one radar sensor and camera, and the path predicting circuit, wherein the fusion circuit fuses information received from the at least one radar sensor and camera and transmits the fused information to the path predicting circuit. 
   
   
       8 . The system as set forth in  claim 6 , further including a fusion circuit in communication with each of the at least one sonar sensor and camera, and the path predicting circuit, wherein the fusion circuit fuses information received from the at least one sonar sensor and camera and transmits the fused information to the path predicting circuit. 
   
   
       9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the path predicting circuit is disposed in the system vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the system vehicle further includes a driver interface operable to warn the drive of a predicted collision. 
   
   
       11 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , further wherein the path collision circuit and path prediction circuit are located in a remote server, and the server is in communication with the roadside infrastructure and the system vehicle. 
   
   
       12 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the roadside infrastructure is in communication with traffic lights, the roadside infrastructure receiving signal phase and timing information transmitted from the traffic lights and transmitting the signal phase and timing information to the path predicting circuit so as to predict a collision. 
   
   
       13 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system vehicle further includes a wheel sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system vehicle further includes an acceleration sensor. 
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the path predicting circuit is located within the system vehicle, and wherein the path predicting circuit is in communication with the roadside infrastructure so as to notify the roadside infrastructure when a collision is predicted, and wherein the roadside infrastructure actuates the roadside alert mechanism so as to notify nearby pedestrians and other vehicles when a collision is predicted. 
   
   
       16 . A system for predicting vehicle collision comprising:
 a system vehicle including a velocity sensor, and a location sensor for detecting the velocity and location of the system vehicle;   a pedestrian detection system having a base and a mast extending from the base, and a plurality of sensors mounted on the mast, the plurality of sensors for detecting objects and pedestrians within a predetermined range, and wherein the sensors include a GPS antenna, at least one camera, an alert mechanism, a radio with an integrated directional antenna, and a short range communication antenna;   a path predicting circuit in communication with the system vehicle and the pedestrian detection system, wherein the path predicting circuit predicts the path of the system vehicle and the path of objects detected within the predetermined range of the pedestrian detection system;   a path collision circuit in communication with the path predicting circuit, wherein the predicted paths of the system vehicle and the object are mapped onto the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle and the object may collide; and   a transmitting device for communicating with the system vehicle, wherein the transmitting device transmits a warning to the system vehicle when a collision is predicted, and wherein pedestrian detection system actuates the alert mechanism so as to warn pedestrians of a potential collision.   
   
   
       17 . The system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the alert mechanism includes a programmable audio siren, and a pedestrian warning light. 
   
   
       18 . A method for predicting a collision comprising the steps of:
 establishing a roadside infrastructure having a predetermined range, the roadside infrastructure including a plurality of roadside sensors selectively distributed throughout the infrastructure, wherein each of the plurality of roadside sensors detects the velocity and location of the detected objects;   predicting the path of each detected object based upon velocity and location of the detected objects;   establishing a system vehicle equipped with sensors so as to detect the velocity and location of the system vehicle;   predicting the path of the system vehicle based upon the velocity and location of the system vehicle;   processing the predicted path of the system vehicle and the predicted path of the detected objects to predict a collision between any of the detected objects and the system vehicle.   
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the step of predicting the path of each detected object includes using the signal phase and timing information of traffic lights, and statistical observation of pedestrians.