Patent ID: 8321092
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: B60R,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles using a computer processor, the method comprising: determining a probability of the potential collision of the vehicles, wherein input to the determining includes a rate of change of an estimated percentage chance of the potential collision occurring; exchanging vehicle condition-defining signals between the first and second vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than a threshold value, the vehicle condition-defining signals including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle; predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; predicting onboard the second vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle based on input including the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal; and transmitting a command to an occupant protection device comprising an airbag, seat belt extendible bumper, retractable bumper or knee bolster, or a combination thereof, on at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle, the command responsive to the probability of the potential collision.