초록 ▼

A system and method assist the driver of a motor vehicle in preventing accidents or minimizing the effects of same. In one form, a television camera is mounted on a vehicle and scans the roadway ahead of the vehicle as the vehicle travels. Continuously generated video picture signals output by the c

A system and method assist the driver of a motor vehicle in preventing accidents or minimizing the effects of same. In one form, a television camera is mounted on a vehicle and scans the roadway ahead of the vehicle as the vehicle travels. Continuously generated video picture signals output by the camera are electronically processed and analyzed by an image analyzing computer, which generates codes, that serve to identify obstacles. A decision computer mounted in the controlled vehicle receives such code signals along with code signals generated by the speedometer or one or more sensors sensing steering mechanism operation and generates control signals. Such code signals maybe displayed, and as synthetic speech or special sound generating and warning means used to warn the driver of the vehicle of approaching and existing hazards. The system may also use the control signals, particularly through application of fuzzy logic, to control the operation of the brakes and steering mechanism of the vehicle to avoid or lessen the effects of a collision. In a particular form, the decision computer may select the evasive action taken from a number of choices, depending on whether and where the detection device senses other vehicles or obstacles.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for controlling the travel of a powered vehicle having manual steering and acceleration controls and supporting a ranging apparatus comprising:(a) as the powered vehicle travels a roadway, measuring the distance to and relative velocity with respect to the vehi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for controlling the travel of a powered vehicle having manual steering and acceleration controls and supporting a ranging apparatus comprising:(a) as the powered vehicle travels a roadway, measuring the distance to and relative velocity with respect to the vehicle of a plurality of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle;(b) calculating, with respect to each of the objects, whether the object and the powered vehicle are on a collision course;(c) when the calculation reveals that a collision is imminent, (i) selecting one of a plurality of state vectors containing a set of binary digits, some of the digits each indicating only whether there is detected an object in one of a plurality of directions from the vehicle that is on a collision course with respect to the vehicle and other of the digits each indicating only whether or not another object is detected in each of the plurality of directions other than the ones on a collision course with respect to the vehicle, (ii) using the selected state vector to select one of a plurality of sets of fuzzy logic inference rules, and (iii) using the selected set of rules to determine a combination of steering and acceleration that is coordinated to attempt to avoid a collision between the powered vehicle and the detected objects;(d) wherein the fuzzy logic inference rules in each of the plurality of sets are each dependent on at least (i) the distance and relative velocity with respect to the vehicle of at least one of the detected objects on a collision course with respect to the powered vehicle and (ii) in which of the plurality of directions relative to the powered vehicle other detected objects are located; and(e) applying the determined combination of steering and acceleration to automatically control the steering and acceleration of the powered vehicle.