Localized dynamic swarming for automobile accident reduction

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus to detect when one or more moving vehicles are close to a first vehicle, and to take necessary actions to maintain a minimum distance between vehicles in a dynamic environment by automatic navigation. A computer method and apparatus for automobile accident reduction by maintaining a minimum distance with respect to all nearby vehicles on the road. In addition, methods to synchronously move a group of vehicles on a highway through a swarming action where each vehicle keeps a region immediately around it free of other vehicles while maintaining the speed of the vehicle immediately in front or nearby is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising
 using a first computer processor on a first vehicle to cause a first communication signal to be transmitted from the first vehicle to a second computer processor on a second vehicle;   wherein the first communication signal provides a first instruction to the second vehicle to move in a first manner; and   further comprising using the second computer processor on the second vehicle to cause the second vehicle to move in the first manner in response to the first instruction.   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising
 using a first computer processor on a first vehicle to communicate with a second computer processor on a second vehicle; and   using a common pre-determined protocol as programmed by computer software to decide a combined movement of the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the communication of the first computer processor on the first vehicle with the second computer processor on the second vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to slow down. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the transmitting of the first communication signal from the first vehicle to the second computer processor on the second vehicle is done after and only if the first computer processor determines that the first vehicle is not allowed to move in a second manner. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein
 the combined movement of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is determined so as to maintain an inner region for each of the first vehicle and the second vehicle free from the other vehicle of the first and the second vehicle and free from any other vehicle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein
 the inner region of the first vehicle is an elliptical area having its center as the center of the first vehicle; 
 and wherein the inner region of the second vehicle is an elliptical area having its center as the center of the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising
 using communications between a first computer processor on a first vehicle and a second computer processor on a second vehicle to synchronize a speed of the first vehicle to be about equal to a speed of the second vehicle subject to a minimum distance requirement between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising
 using communications between a third computer processor on a third vehicle and the second computer processor on the second vehicle to synchronize a speed of the third vehicle to be about equal to a speed of the second vehicle subject to a minimum distance requirement between the third vehicle and the second vehicle; 
 wherein communications, if any, between the first computer processor and the third computer processor are not used to synchronize the speed of the third vehicle to be about equal the speed of the second vehicle subject to the minimum distance requirement between the third vehicle and the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to accelerate. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to change direction of movement of the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein
 the second vehicle and the first vehicle are travelling on the same road, and in substantially the same direction; and the second vehicle is ahead of the first vehicle on the road. 
 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising
 a first computer processor located on a first vehicle;   a second computer processor located on a second vehicle;   wherein the first computer processor is programmed to:   cause a first communication signal to be transmitted from the first vehicle to the second computer processor on the second vehicle;   wherein the first communication signal provides a first instruction to the second vehicle to move in a first manner; and   wherein the second computer processor is programmed to cause the second vehicle to move in the first manner in response to the first instruction.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising
 a first computer processor located on a first vehicle;   a second computer processor located on a second vehicle;   wherein the first computer processor is programmed to communicate with the second computer processor; and   wherein the first and the second computer processors are programmed to use a common pre-determined protocol as programmed by computer software to decide a combined movement of the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the communication of the first computer processor on the first vehicle with the second computer processor on the second vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12   wherein the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to slow down.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein
 the transmitting of the first communication signal from the first vehicle to the second computer processor on the second vehicle is done after and only if the first computer processor determines that the first vehicle is not allowed to move in a second manner. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein
 the combined movement of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is determined so as to maintain an inner region for each of the first vehicle and the second vehicle free from the other vehicle of the first and the second vehicle and free from any other vehicle. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein
 the inner region of the first vehicle is an elliptical area having its center as the center of the first vehicle; 
 and wherein the inner region of the second vehicle is an elliptical area having its center as the center of the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first computer processor on a first vehicle;   a second computer processor on a second vehicle; and   wherein the first computer processor and the second computer processor are programmed to use communications between the first computer processor and the second computer processor to synchronize a speed of the first vehicle to be about equal to a speed of the second vehicle subject to a minimum distance requirement between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising
 a third computer processor on a third vehicle; 
 wherein the second computer processor on the second vehicle and the third computer processor on the third vehicle are programmed to use communications between the third computer processor and the second computer processor to synchronize a speed of the third vehicle to be about equal to a speed of the second vehicle subject to a minimum distance requirement between the third vehicle and the second vehicle; and 
 wherein communications, if any, between the first computer processor and the third computer processor are not used to synchronize the speed of the third vehicle to be about equal the speed of the second vehicle subject to the minimum distance requirement between the third vehicle and the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to accelerate. 
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to change direction of movement of the second vehicle. 
 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein
 the second vehicle and the first vehicle are travelling on the same road, and in substantially the same direction; and the second vehicle is ahead of the first vehicle on the road. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to steer the second vehicle in a particular direction. 
 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein
 the first instruction to the second vehicle to move in the first manner instructs the second vehicle to steer the second vehicle in a particular direction. 
 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising,
 detecting a state of a traffic light using a sensing device on a vehicle;   wherein the traffic light is not part of the vehicle;   wherein the state of the traffic light is either a first state in which the traffic light is green, a second state in which the traffic light is red, or a third state in which the traffic light is yellow;   and further comprising measuring a first distance from the vehicle to the traffic light;   using a computer processor to determine a ratio of the first distance to a speed of the vehicle;   and using a computer processor to cause the vehicle to come to a complete stop if the state of the vehicle is either the second state or the third state and based at least in part on the ratio of the first distance to the speed of the vehicle.   
     
     
         26 . A method comprising,
 detecting a stop sign using a sensing device on a vehicle;   wherein the stop sign is not part of the vehicle;   and further comprising determining whether the vehicle is decelerating; and   using a computer processor to cause a braking device to stop the vehicle within a first distance of the stop sign if the vehicle is not decelerating.