Rapid Identification of Autonomous Vehicles by Simultaneous 5G/6G Wireless Messages and Infrared Signals

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles, equipped with 5G/6G technology, can cooperate to avoid collisions only after they determine which wireless address belongs to which other vehicle in traffic. Systems and methods provided herein can enable autonomous vehicles to identify other autonomous vehicles in view, thereby associating each vehicle with a particular wireless address. A first vehicle emits an infrared light pulse while simultaneously broadcasting a wireless message with its wireless address, while a second vehicle receives the wireless address and the simultaneous infrared pulse. The second vehicle can thereby identify the first vehicle spatially and by wireless communication. The second vehicle responds by transmitting a second wireless message and simultaneously emitting a second infrared pulse. The first vehicle receives the second infrared pulse and the second wireless message, thereby identifying the second vehicle. After such localization and identification, the vehicles can then cooperate effectively.

1 . A system, mounted on a first vehicle, in traffic comprising a plurality of vehicles, for identifying a second vehicle proximate to the first vehicle, the system comprising:
 a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a first wireless message comprising a first wireless address of the first vehicle;   an infrared light pulse emitter configured to emit a first infrared light pulse;   a wireless receiver configured to receive a second wireless message from the second vehicle, the second wireless message indicating a second wireless address of the second vehicle;   an infrared detector configured to detect a second infrared light pulse from the second vehicle; and   a processor in the first vehicle; the processor configured to:   cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the first wireless message;   cause the infrared light pulse emitter to emit the first infrared light pulse simultaneously with the first wireless message, such that the first infrared light pulse is emitted while the first wireless message is being transmitted;   cause the wireless receiver to receive the second wireless message, and to determine, from the second wireless message, the second wireless address;   cause the infrared detector to detect, simultaneously with the second wireless message, the second infrared light pulse; and   associate, according to the second wireless message, the second wireless address with the second vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared detector comprises a camera sensitive to infrared light. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first infrared light pulse is emitted with azimuthal symmetry. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared detector is configured to have higher angular resolution in a forward quadrant and a backward quadrant than in lateral quadrants, the quadrants relative to a forward direction of the first vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared detector is sensitive to both infrared and visible light. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared detector is configured to form an image that includes both the second vehicle and the second infrared light pulse. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared detector is configured to determine an angle or direction of the second infrared light pulse. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a visible light camera configured to image the second vehicle at the same time that the infrared detector detects the second infrared light pulse. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a camera sensitive to visible light wherein:
 the infrared detector is configured to detect the second infrared light pulse and to form an infrared image indicating an arrival direction of the second infrared light pulse; and   the camera is configured to form a visible light image that includes the second vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine, according to a position of the second infrared light pulse on the infrared image, a particular direction toward the second vehicle relative to the first vehicle; and   determine which particular vehicle, of the plurality of vehicles, is located at the particular direction, relative to the first vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless message includes a request for other vehicles to transmit another wireless message and simultaneously emit another infrared light pulse. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle is an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, wherein a semi-autonomous vehicle is a human-driven vehicle comprising an automatic emergency intervention system. 
     
     
         13 . A method for a first vehicle to identify a second vehicle among a plurality of vehicles in traffic, the method comprising:
 emitting, by the first vehicle, a first plurality of infrared light pulses, the first plurality of infrared light pulses including an encoded first wireless address or identification code associated with the first vehicle;   receiving, by the first vehicle, a second plurality of infrared light pulses, the second plurality of infrared light pulses including an encoded second wireless address or identification code associated with the second vehicle;   determining, by the first vehicle, according to a direction of the second plurality of infrared light pulses, which particular vehicle, of the plurality of vehicles in traffic, is associated with the second wireless address or identification code.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising recording, by the first vehicle, an image depicting the plurality of vehicles in traffic, and further depicting the second plurality of infrared light pulses. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after determining which particular vehicle is associated with the second wireless address or identification code, transmitting, by the first vehicle to the second vehicle, a first wireless message that includes both the first wireless address or identification code and the second wireless address or identification code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving, by the first vehicle, a second wireless message transmitted by the second vehicle, the second wireless message indicating both the first wireless address or identification code and the second wireless address or identification code. 
     
     
         17 . Non-transitory computer-readable media in a first vehicle, the first vehicle among a plurality of vehicles in traffic, the media including instructions that, when executed by a processor in the first vehicle, cause a method to be performed by the first vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a second vehicle of the plurality, a wireless message, the wireless message indicating a wireless address of the second vehicle;   detecting, simultaneous with the wireless message, one or more pulses of infrared light emitted by the second vehicle;   determining, according to the one or more pulses of infrared light, which particular vehicle, of the plurality of vehicles in traffic, is the second vehicle; and   determining, according to the wireless message, that the wireless address is associated with the particular vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The media of  claim 17 , further comprising a camera mounted in or on the first vehicle, the camera sensitive to infrared light, the method further comprising:
 recording, in the camera, simultaneous with the receiving the wireless message, an infrared image, the infrared image including the one or more pulses of infrared light; and   determining, according to the infrared image, a direction toward the second vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The media of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 transmitting, by the first vehicle, a subsequent wireless message indicating a wireless address of the first vehicle; and   emitting, by the first vehicle, a subsequent infrared pulse simultaneous with the subsequent wireless message.   
     
     
         20 . The media of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 determining, by the first vehicle, that a collision with the second vehicle is imminent; and   transmitting, to the second vehicle, an emergency wireless message requesting that the second vehicle perform a particular action to avoid the imminent collision.