Patent ID: 8380426
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: B60T,B60W,G01S,G08G

Abstract:
1. A method for evaluation of an automotive vehicle forward collision threat comprising: establishing, by a front sensor system, a presence of an oncoming vehicle in front of a host vehicle, said host vehicle and said oncoming vehicle traveling on a road, and said oncoming vehicle being intended to pass said host vehicle on a first side of said host vehicle; estimating a longitudinal velocity of said oncoming vehicle; estimating a longitudinal distance (d) between said host vehicle and said oncoming vehicle; determining a longitudinal velocity and a lateral velocity of said host vehicle and predicting a future path of said host vehicle; predicting a passing position of said host vehicle on said road for the moment when said host vehicle and said oncoming vehicle reach each other, whereby the prediction is based on said longitudinal velocity of said oncoming vehicle, said longitudinal distance, said longitudinal and lateral velocity of said host vehicle and said future path of said host vehicle; predicting a free passing distance (f) for free passing of said oncoming vehicle on said first side of said host vehicle on said road, whereby said free passing distance is predicted for the situation when said host vehicle is positioned in said passing position, whereby said free passing distance (f) is the minimum distance between said first side of said host vehicle and a road edge intended to be located on an opposite side of said oncoming vehicle compared to said host vehicle when said vehicles reach each other; estimating a maximum transverse width (w) of said oncoming vehicle; deciding that a vehicle forward collision threat exists if said free passing distance (f) is equal to or less than a comparison value, whereby said comparison value is at least equal to said estimated maximum transverse width (w) of said oncoming vehicle, and deciding that no vehicle forward collision threat exists if said free passing distance (f) is greater than said comparison value, and upon deciding that said vehicle forward collision threat exists, signaling the decision to a collision avoidance task execution system.