One embodiment of an unmanned protective vehicle (UPV) includes a chassis, wheels, an engine, a barrier fixed to the chassis, and an autonomous driving system. The UPV has an opening which enables a manned vehicle to enter a space that is protected by the barrier. And the autonomous driving system is configured to drive the UPV in cooperation with the manned vehicle, while the manned vehicle is located inside the space. Having the manned vehicle inside the space of the UPV improves the survivability of the manned vehicle following a collision, while the manned vehicle is located inside the space, compared to the survivability of the manned vehicle following a collision, while the manned vehicle is not located inside the space.
B60R 11/04 - Mounting of cameras operative during driveArrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
B62D 21/15 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
2.
Unmanned carrier for carrying urban manned vehicles
One embodiment of an unmanned carrier for carrying urban manned vehicles includes a computer, a motorized lift, an autonomous-driving control system, and a safety frame. The computer synchronizes pick-up of manned vehicles by the unmanned carrier; wherein each manned vehicle is an autonomous on-road vehicle that transports one or more occupants in a compartment, is authorized by law to drive in a residential neighborhood, and is unauthorized by law to drive on the highway on its own because it is not safe enough for highway speed. The motorized lift enables the manned vehicles to get on and get off the unmanned carrier without human intervention. The autonomous-driving control system navigates the unmanned carrier autonomously on a highway. And the safety frame protects the occupants who sit in the carried manned vehicles during a collision at highway speed.
B62D 21/15 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
B60R 11/04 - Mounting of cameras operative during driveArrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
3.
Provide specific warnings to vehicle occupants before intense movements
A safety system that provides specific warnings to an occupant of a vehicle engaged in a certain activity that can cause an adverse outcome in an event of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (an SDRS event). The safety system includes a sensor that takes measurements of the vehicle compartment, and a computer that estimates, based on the measurements, whether the occupant of the vehicle is engaged in a certain activity that can lead to an adverse outcome in case of an SDRS event. Responsive to receiving an indication indicative of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer provides a specific warning to the occupant. The specific warning describes a specific action related to the certain activity, which the occupant should take.
B60W 50/14 - Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
B60W 50/00 - Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit
B60W 40/10 - Estimation or calculation of driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit related to vehicle motion
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
4.
Shock-absorbing energy dissipation padding placed at eye level in an autonomous vehicle
A Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP) is coupled to the compartment of an autonomous on-road vehicle, and is located, during normal driving, at eye level in front of an occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a stiff element that supports the SAEDP and resists deformation during collision in order to reduce compartment intrusion. The stiff element is located, during normal driving, at eye level between the SAEDP and the outside environment. Optionally, a camera takes video of the outside environment in front of the occupant, and a computer generates for the occupant a representation of the outside environment.
G06T 19/00 - Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
B60J 3/04 - Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreensSun visors for vehicles adjustable in transparency
B60R 1/00 - Optical viewing arrangementsReal-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
B60R 21/0134 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle
B60R 21/017 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including arrangements for providing electric power to the safety arrangements
B60R 21/055 - Padded fittings, e.g. head rests, sun visors
B60R 21/36 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using airbags
B60R 21/00 - Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
B60R 21/01 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
B60R 21/34 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
B62D 21/06 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
5.
Autonomous vehicle having an external shock-absorbing energy dissipation padding
An autonomous on-road vehicle having an outer nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP). In one embodiment, the SAEDP is mounted, during normal driving, to the front side of the vehicle at eye level of an occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle. A camera is mounted to the vehicle and takes video of the outside environment in front of the occupant. And a computer generates a representation of the outside environment at eye level for the occupant.
B60R 21/34 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
B60R 21/36 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using airbags
B60R 21/0134 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle
B60R 21/0136 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to actual contact with an obstacle
B60R 21/04 - Padded linings for the vehicle interior
A large mirroring element is located in front of an occupant who sits in a front seat of an autonomous on-road vehicle. The large mirroring element provides the effect of reflecting light arriving from the occupant's direction. Optionally, a camera takes video of the outside environment in front of the occupant, sends the video to a computer that generates a representation of the outside environment in front of the occupant at eye level, and a display located in front of the occupant presents the representation to the occupant.
G06F 3/01 - Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
G06T 19/00 - Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
B60R 21/02 - Occupant safety arrangements or fittings
B60J 3/04 - Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreensSun visors for vehicles adjustable in transparency
B60R 1/00 - Optical viewing arrangementsReal-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
B60R 21/0134 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle
B60R 21/017 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including arrangements for providing electric power to the safety arrangements
B60R 21/055 - Padded fittings, e.g. head rests, sun visors
B60R 21/36 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using airbags
B60R 21/00 - Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
B60R 21/01 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
B60R 21/34 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
B62D 21/06 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
7.
Moveable internal shock-absorbing energy dissipation padding in an autonomous vehicle
Described herein is utilization of nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP) in an autonomous on-road vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a side window located at eye level of an occupant who sits in the vehicle. The side window enables the occupant to see the outside environment. A motor is configured to move the SAEDP over a sliding mechanism between first and second states. A processor is configured to command the motor to move the SAEDP from the first state to the second state responsive to an indication that a probability of an imminent collision reaches a threshold. In the first state, the SAEDP does not block the occupant's eye level view to the outside environment, and in the second state, the SAEDP blocks the occupant's eye level view to the outside environment in order to protect the occupant's head against hitting the side window during collision.
B60R 21/0134 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle
B60R 1/00 - Optical viewing arrangementsReal-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
B60R 21/017 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents including arrangements for providing electric power to the safety arrangements
B60R 21/055 - Padded fittings, e.g. head rests, sun visors
B60R 21/06 - Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass
B62D 21/06 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted of X-shaped or fork-shaped construction, i.e. having members which form an X or fork as the frame is seen in plan view
B60R 21/02 - Occupant safety arrangements or fittings
B60R 21/36 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians using airbags
B60R 21/00 - Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
B60R 21/01 - Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
B60R 21/34 - Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
8.
Warning a vehicle occupant before an intense movement
A safety system for an autonomous vehicle that may be used to warn an occupant engaged in a certain activity that involves handling an object that can harm the occupant in an event of a Sudden Decrease in Ride Smoothness (an SDRS event). The safety system includes a camera that takes images of the occupant and a computer that estimates, based on the images, whether the occupant is engaged in the certain activity. The computer receives from an autonomous-driving control system an indication of whether an SDRS event is imminent. Responsive to both receiving an indication of an imminent SDRS event and estimating that the occupant is engaged in the certain activity, the computer commands a user interface to warn the occupant shortly before the SDRS event.
patents