Patent ID: 8013722
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A vehicle obstruction warning method, comprising the steps of: obtaining first clearance data of said vehicle, said first clearance data including height and width of said vehicle; scanning at least one obstruction presented in a path of said vehicle and a travel surface between said vehicle and said at least one obstruction; determining second clearance data of said at least one obstruction, said second clearance data including at least one of height and width of a vehicle passage defined by said at least one obstruction; comparing said first clearance data against said second clearance data; generating a warning signal when values of said first clearance data are at least one of equal to and greater than corresponding values of said second clearance data, wherein said warning signal is at least one of an optical, acoustic, and haptic signal; providing a time limit for a vehicle operator to take action responsive to said warning signal to avoid collision with said at least one obstruction; and automatically braking said vehicle to a stop on expiration of said time limit when said operator does not take said action.