Patent•
System and method for the detection of vehicle rollover conditions
08 Dec 1997-
TL;DR: In this article, a system uses multiple tilt sensors mounted to the vehicle frame and the vehicle suspension system to detect lateral acceleration and lateral load transfer, and a display coupled to the system provides the vehicle operator with a read out of the load transfer ratio and effective center of gravity height.
Abstract: A system uses multiple tilt sensors mounted to the vehicle frame and the vehicle suspension system to detect lateral acceleration and lateral load transfer. The system uses these measurements to determine a lateral load transfer ratio indicative of an actual roll moment compared to a maximum roll moment. The measurements from the tilt sensors are also used to calculate an effective center of gravity height. A display coupled to the system provides the vehicle operator with a read out of the load transfer ratio and effective center of gravity height. The display enables the vehicle operator to more completely understand the nature of the vehicle load and thereby allow the vehicle operator to avoid conditions likely to lead to a vehicle rollover accident.
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Patent•
24 Jun 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the system monitors selected vehicle parameters while a vehicle is being driven, and detects one or more vehicle operation violations by comparing the selected vehicle parameter to predetermined thresholds, and a mentoring message is provided to the driver if the threshold is exceeded.
Abstract: System and method for providing feedback to drivers. The system monitors selected vehicle parameters while a vehicle is being driven, and detects one or more vehicle operation violations by comparing the selected vehicle parameters to predetermined thresholds. A mentoring message is provided to the driver if the threshold is exceeded. If a vehicle operation violation has not been corrected within a preselected time period, then a violation report may be sent to a third party or a central server and/or a different mentoring message may be provided to the driver. Vehicle parameter data may be monitored from an on-board vehicle diagnostic system. The mentoring message may be an audible warning, such as a spoken message, or a visual warning, such as a text message. The selected vehicle parameters may be a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, or a vehicle seatbelt use.
308 citations
Patent•
30 May 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, a system and method for evaluating driver performance, comprising detecting operations of a vehicle using an on-board vehicle monitoring system, comparing the operations to predetermined criteria, identifying violations of the predetermined criteria and tracking violations that occur during an evaluation period, calculating a grade associated with operation of the vehicle.
Abstract: System and method for evaluating driver performance, comprising detecting operations of a vehicle using an on-board vehicle monitoring system, comparing the operations to predetermined criteria, identifying violations of the predetermined criteria, tracking violations that occur during an evaluation period, and, at the end of the evaluation period, calculating a grade associated with operation of the vehicle.
263 citations
Patent•
17 Jul 2007
TL;DR: In this article, a system and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance is presented, which is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver.
Abstract: System and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance. The driver's classification or grade is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver. The driver may receive discounted insurance rates for using monitoring and/or mentoring equipment in the vehicle. Insurance companies may use the driver classifications or grades to bid for coverage of groups of drivers having similar classifications or grades.
258 citations
Patent•
08 Dec 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, a vehicle recorder system that is configured with a video camera, a light weight memory system, and a radio communications facility suitable for use in conjunction with an moving vehicle is presented.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle recorder system that is configured with a video camera, a light weight memory system, and a radio communications facility suitable for use in conjunction with an moving vehicle. An automobile equipped with such video recorder system that is used throughout a day of service provides a video record of unusual events which may occur from time-to-time. For example, events such as accidents, near-misses, and excessive speed, among others, trigger a system to preserve video images collected before and after the moment of the event. Replaying these images provides information regarding the cause and true nature of the event. These systems are particularly suitable for vehicle fleets, or other groups of vehicles that can communicate with a common system.
245 citations
Patent•
22 May 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, a system and method for identifying speeding violations is proposed, comprising determining a current speed and a current location of a vehicle, determining a posted speed limit for the current location from a speed-by-street database, comparing the current speed of the vehicle to the posted speed, and evaluating whether the current speeding exceeds the posted limit.
Abstract: System and method for identifying speeding violations, comprising determining a current speed and a current location of a vehicle, determining a posted speed limit for the current location from a speed-by-street database, comparing the current speed of the vehicle to the posted speed limit, and evaluating whether the current speed exceeds the posted speed limit. Errors are identified in the speed-by-street database by storing a plurality of speeding violation records, wherein the speeding violation records each include a speeding event location; analyzing the speeding violation records to identify one or more speeding event locations having multiple speeding violations; comparing a posted speed limit at the one or more speeding event locations having multiple speeding violations to corresponding speed limit data in the speed-by-street database; and identifying one or more speed limit entries in the speed-by-street database that do not match the posted speed limit.
245 citations
References
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Patent•
12 May 1989
TL;DR: In this paper, a stability monitoring and alarm system for a motor vehicle (e.g., a truck or a tractor trailer) provides an early warning to the driver of unsafe or potentially unsafe conditions.
Abstract: A stability monitoring and alarm system for a motor vehicle (e.g., a truck or a tractor trailer) provides an early warning to the driver of unsafe or potentially unsafe conditions. Front wheel desynchronization and rear load distribution are each monitored, and an alarm is generated if either the front wheels become desynchronized or the load is unevenly distributed in the rear of the vehicle. Various filtering and averaging techniques avoid false alarms and increase reliability and sensitivity. Thresholding of the front wheel desynchronization comparison is based on a model which takes turning lateral G force for particular speeds into account so that an alarm based on front wheel descynchronization is not generated because of taking turns too rapidly. Rather, such alarm is generated by monitoring shifting rear load distribution --a better and more accurate measure of vehicle stability. The resulting indications provided by an easy to read user interface warn the driver of a variety of conditions (e.g., loss of traction due to hydroplaning or ice, shifting rear load, equipment failure, etc.) to help avoid accidents.
98 citations
Patent•
10 Mar 1987
TL;DR: In this article, a system for vehicle roll control, a suspension device or an actuator is provided corresponding to each wheel of a vehicle, and resiliently suspends it from the vehicle body.
Abstract: In this system for vehicle roll control, a suspension device or an actuator is provided corresponding to each wheel of a vehicle, and resiliently suspends it from the vehicle body. Each such suspension device can alter its hardness or softness characteristics according to a control signal, while similarly the actuators are adapted to alter the suspended height of their wheels. A vehicle speed detecting device senses road speed, a steering angle detecting device senses steering angle, and a device detects the total vehicle body weight. A computing control device computes a predictive roll angle of the vehicle body from road speed and steering angle, and: if suspension devices are provided, controls them to be relatively hard when the absolute value of the predictive roll angle is larger than a threshold value, while controlling them to be relatively soft when the absolute value of the predictive roll angle is less than this threshold value; while, if actuators are provided, when the absolute value of the predictive roll angle is larger than a threshold value, it controls them in accordance with this predictive roll angle. Particularly, this computing device varies the threshold roll angle value according to the total vehicle body weight as detected by the weight detector, so as to decrease the threshold roll angle value along with increase of the total vehicle body weight.
76 citations
Patent•
08 Jun 1982
TL;DR: In this article, a system for preventing a vehicle from turning sideways comprises a unit for measuring the weight of a cargo on the vehicle, a unit measuring the height of the gravitational center of the cargo and a unit that measures the steering angle of the vehicle.
Abstract: A system for preventing a vehicle from turning sideways comprises a unit for measuring the weight of a cargo on the vehicle, a unit for measuring the height of gravitational center of the cargo on the vehicle, a unit for measuring the steering angle of the vehicle, and a unit for measuring the running speed of the vehicle. The static stability of the vehicle is derived from the weight and the height of gravitational center of the vehicle and the measured weight and height of gravitational center of the cargo. The dynamic instability of the vehicle during turning is derived from the measured steering angle and running speed. First and second allowable limits are determined according to the static stability. When the dynamic instability exceeds the first allowable limit, the clutch of the vehicle is disengaged, and when the instability exceeds the second limit, the vehicle is braked. Upon the dynamic instability exceeding each allowable limit, information to that effect is given.
53 citations
Patent•
13 Nov 1993TL;DR: In this article, an anti-roll system for wheeled vehicles is described that has one selective, unidirectionally lockable device per independent suspension assembly, which is activated by a control system signal when the sprung mass is subjected to a lateral acceleration which exceeds a preset threshold.
Abstract: An anti-roll system for wheeled vehicles is disclosed that has one selective, unidirectionally lockable device per each independent suspension assembly. The device has telescoping members connected respectively between the sprung and unsprung masses of a vehicle that are free to extend or contract relative to one another during vehicle operation which results in minimal (zero ± preset threshold) lateral acceleration of the vehicle's sprung mass, i.e. vehicle traveling down a straight roadway. The telescoping members include a piston within a cylinder that defines first and second chambers which are interconnected through valves to one another and to a common reservoir to form an assembly. These valves are activated, by a control system signal, when the sprung mass is subjected to a lateral acceleration which exceeds a preset threshold, i.e. vehicle rounding a curve, blocking flow from one or the other of the first or second chambers so as to lock the outboard device, with respect to the curve, against contraction while allowing it to extend and to lock the inboard device against extension while allowing it to contract. The devices, in the locked-out condition, impart a high roll stiffness into the vehicle's suspension system, thus reducing the tilt angle of the vehicle for a given maneuver and increasing the vehicle's roll-over threshold. Additionally, so as not to degrade ride quality, and/or dynamically over load suspension components, the devices, while in a locked mode of operation, are allowed to react, when signaled, to high frequency road disturbances by opening a fast acting valve, momentarily unlocking the device, when the wheel of a respective independent suspension assembly is subjected to a vertical force which exceeds a preset threshold. The fast acting valve is again closed once the road disturbance has passed re-locking the device in the appropriate direction. Ride quality is unaffected while the devices are in the unlocked mode of operation since they are free floating in this mode.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an ultra-sonic senor system suitable for monitoring movement of a vehicle relative to the horizontal employs two or more coordinated USS sensors, mounted at opposite ends or on opposite sides of the vehicle, depending on whether pitch or roll respectively is to be monitored.
Abstract: An ultra-sonic senor system suitable for monitoring movement of a vehicle, relative to the horizontal employs two or more coordinated ultra-sonic sensors. The sensors may be mounted at opposite ends or on opposite sides of the vehicle, depending on whether pitch or roll respectively is to be monitored. Each sensor broadcasts ultra-sonic waves and receives ultra-sonic waves reflected by the road surface. The transmission time is known; the reception time is measured upon detection of the peak of the reflected waves. The difference between the two above times yields the distance between the vehicle and the road. The difference between the distances measured by two sensor yields the inclination of the vehicle relative to the horizontal plane.
35 citations