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Title:
SMART DEVICES ADVANCED SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING THE DRIVING OF INTERCONNECTED VEHICLES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2023/105336
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, characterized by the presence of communication devices (100) composed of various components including: a processor (101), a photo camera (102), a touchscreen display (103), an acoustic alarm (105), a device (107) positioned on the steering wheel consisting of an electric motor. Said processor (101) performs the necessary calculations to identify the recipient of the alarm message and displays said message on the communication device (100) of the recipient, activating said alarm (105) and a vibration emitted by the device (107).

Inventors:
FOLINO MORENO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2022/061347
Publication Date:
June 15, 2023
Filing Date:
November 23, 2022
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
FOLINO MORENO (IT)
International Classes:
B60Q1/52; G08G1/04; H04L67/125; H04W4/46
Foreign References:
US20210065551A12021-03-04
US20170256147A12017-09-07
US10609148B12020-03-31
JP2009010718A2009-01-15
US9955306B12018-04-24
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
FIAMMENGHI, Eva et al. (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims 1. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, which comprises a plurality of smart communication devices (100) positioned inside each vehicle which adopts the system, suitable to allow the communication of a plurality of emergency situations fully protecting the privacy of the passengers; said communication devices (100) characterized in that it comprises at least: ● a processor (101) suitable to carry out all computational functions, the processing of the images and of wireless signals and communication through the Internet; ● a photo camera (102) with wide visual angle with a fixed framing on the view of the driver suitable to send the taken images to said processor (101); ● a touchscreen display (103) suitable to show an interface in which the images taken by said photo camera (102) are displayed and suitable to record a touch of the user, who indicates on the images which of the surrounding vehicles has a malfunction or a potential danger to circulation; ● an acoustic alarm (105) suitable to signal to the driver of the vehicle in a dangerous situation the warning sent by the vehicle transmitter of the wireless signal; ● a device (107) positioned on the steering wheel provided with an electric motor which, turning, provides a slight vibration after the system has detected possible danger of collision and driver fatigue by means of said photo camera (102); 2. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a 5G antenna (104) positioned on the roof of the vehicle and connected via Wi-Fi to the processor (101) suitable to transmit a message of potential danger between a sender vehicle and a recipient vehicle. 3. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that it comprises technologies that support vehicle connectivity, characterized by dedicated short range communications (about 500 m) at sub-6 Ghz frequency; said technologies are: ● “vehicle-to-vehicle”, referred to as V2V (200), suitable to prevent collision between two interconnected vehicles; ● “vehicle-to-infrastructure”, referred to as V2I (201), suitable to acquire data on the infrastructure and provide the driver of the vehicle with real time warnings on aspects such as road conditions, traffic congestion, accidents, construction areas and parking availability; ● “vehicle-to-pedestrian”, referred to as V2P (202), suitable to warn pedestrians and cyclists of an approaching vehicle; said technologies, suitable to create a scenario in which the vehicles can communicate with the surrounding environment, support a communication between the vehicle and the data network, which occurs through 5G network protocols. 4. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises smart tires provided with a plurality of sensors (108), suitable to communicate potentially dangerous conditions of the road surface to the vehicle and to the infrastructure becoming integrated in a 5G communication. 5. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an application for mobile devices suitable to support the operation of the system and to implement additional statistical services relating to the problems detected. 6. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a GPS geolocation system (400) suitable to memorize the position where the reported events and possible accidents occurred. 7. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a specific function dedicated to reporting temporary stops obstructing traffic, wherein following the report, said communication device (100) makes an automatic call or sends an SMS to the telephone of the owner of the parked vehicle, attaching the position where the vehicle is currently found, obtained through said GPS system (400). 8. Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles, according to any one of the preceding claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it uses additional keys (600) for input by the user, including at least an emergency key (601) suitable to immediately report the presence of an emergency situation to the due authorities also simultaneously sending the position detected through said GPS system (400).
Description:
Smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles Description Field of the invention The present invention relates to the field of artificial intelligence systems applied to road safety, in particular in vehicular traffic, where a timely communication of an imminent danger can prevent serious road accidents with savings in road damage and fatalities. Prior art Among the medium and long-term objectives of the European Union for the next few years is the reduction of road accidents and the emission of CO 2 by road vehicles, a result to be achieved through new policies on road safety and use of the most modern and innovative car safety systems available. Although European roads are among the safest in the world according to international statistics, the EU has developed an ambitious program to eliminate the number of road deaths by 2050. However, this is not a real novelty, as the European Union has always supported the introduction of innovative safety devices for cars, to be installed already in the standard versions. The transition of these systems from optional to legal obligation for all new vehicles is a fundamental point in the European strategies on driving safety. A technological advance in these directions is however necessary to limit as much as possible the problems that, despite everything, afflict the streets. For this reason, it was decided to put into practice an intelligent problem reporting system. The basis of the present invention is the communication between different vehicles, even unknown ones, with a minimum exchange of data concerning a hazard that is not observable from inside a vehicle, but only from another that is in its proximity. Various solutions have proposed methods of communication between vehicles, for example we may mention patent JP2009010718A which describes a system based on a wireless connection with cryptographic keys designed to keep the communication secret; however, this system requires cryptographic keys to be shared before communication, which is not possible in the case of communication between unknown vehicles such as the one in question. In US9955306B1 the communication between a user device and any unknown vehicle is addressed. In order to select the correct vehicle from among those in the vicinity of the user device, the identifiers of the antennas whose signal reaches said user device are detected. These identifiers allow access to a database of vehicle data and the user selects the vehicle that most closely matches the one to which he/she intends to send the communication. This method requires too much identification work by the user who, in case he/she is driving, does not have the possibility to be distracted to scroll through the search results in the database. In fact, this patent lacks, in addition to the specific use in the field of safety, the support for the user of artificial intelligence which makes the selection of the vehicle to which to send the alarm message immediate and the communication of the danger detected timely. It is also necessary to update the communication technologies between a user device and any unknown vehicle as the technologies on the market often have a delay in signal reception due to a limited and guaranteed latency: with a 4G connection, the latency corresponds to approximately 100 milliseconds, while with the 5G connection it is under 10 milliseconds. It seems like a small difference, but it matters a lot for a motorist who has to brake hard in order not to hit a pedestrian. Furthermore, attention must also be paid to the number of connections available at the same time, in order to monitor the situation in a capillary manner. There is no doubt, therefore, that the solutions mentioned thus far only partially address the criticalities described. Description of the invention According to the present invention, a smart devices advanced system for assisting the driving of interconnected vehicles is provided which effectively solves the aforementioned problems, also protecting privacy. Devices such as the airbag, ABS and seat belts have now become an essential accessory for driving on the road, so the next step to take involves highly technological systems, including the new automatic driving assistance software provided with artificial intelligence. This patent application operates precisely in this area, creating a data transmission system between electronic devices installed on vehicles that is able, through a short-range 5G communication, to send a message of immediate danger found in a vehicle in the immediate vicinity. This communication system between vehicles is exclusively aimed at alerting the driver of another vehicle of an imminent danger due to anomalies in their own vehicle or other neighbors, such as for example: the non-functioning lighting system, arrows, stop lights or others related; tires with pressure problems and therefore with the risk of skidding; vehicle doors that have not been closed properly; breakdowns of other types visible from emissions of smoke or other, or vehicles with unsafe load or that could cause danger to motor vehicle traffic. It should be emphasized that communication between vehicles will only affect information relating to emergency situations highlighted above, it will not be possible to forward any other notification or message that is not relevant to cases deemed to be of vital importance and road safety for people, in full compliance with privacy. To implement this communication system between motor vehicles, the present patent application includes a plurality of electronic devices positioned inside each vehicle that adopts the communication system proposed herein which allows the transmission of data of a wide range of types of emergency. Each server that the vehicle is equipped with is provided with a processor that performs all the computational functions, with data from wireless signals from other vehicles or the processing of images from photo cameras. In fact, each vehicle is provided with one or more wide visual angle photo cameras with a fixed framing on the same view as the driver, which records images of other vehicles in the vicinity of one’s car and sends them to the processor. The smart device, on board the vehicle, is provided with a touchscreen display of at least 10” which displays the images taken by the photo camera, but not only. The touch function is used to record the user's touch, in this way the recorded image indicates which of the vehicles surrounding one’s car is the one of interest, i.e. the vehicle that has an anomaly that can degenerate into a danger to traffic. The processor broadcasts, i.e. transmits to a set of receiving systems not defined a priori, the information detected, such as, for example, the license plate number, the car model or the color. This information is sent to all compatible devices, i.e. similar to the one on board that sends said information, in the immediate vicinity and therefore covered by the transmission signal. In an embodiment of the present invention, the exchange of the danger message between the sender vehicle and the recipient vehicle, indicated on the display by the driver of the first vehicle, is made possible by the presence of a 5G antenna for short-range communication (about 500 m). The technologies that, through 5G network protocols, support communication between the vehicle and the data network are: - “vehicle-to-vehicle”, referred to as V2V, suitable to prevent collision between two interconnected vehicles; - “vehicle-to-infrastructure”, referred to as V2I, suitable to acquire data on the infrastructure and provide the driver of the vehicle with real time warnings on aspects such as road conditions, traffic congestion, accidents, construction areas and parking availability; - “vehicle-to-pedestrian”, referred to as V2P, suitable to warn pedestrians and cyclists of an approaching vehicle. These technologies, as anticipated, are based on dedicated short-range communications at the sub-6 GHz frequency and are designed for fast moving objects. This makes it possible to establish a reliable radio link, even in the absence of line of sight. This allows the driver to be aware of the dangers to come, reducing potential car collisions, fatalities and injuries. These technologies are used to improve the functionality offered by the photo camera, which offers visibility around a stationary vehicle up to a distance of approximately 200m. In addition, they also improve the efficiency of global transport: by warning of impending traffic congestion and suggesting alternative routes, these technologies help to reduce CO 2 emissions, with an additional benefit of reducing vehicle maintenance. Hence, these technologies aim to create a scenario in which vehicles can communicate with their surroundings, including other cars, infrastructure and control systems, as well as people on foot and on light vehicles, bicycles and scooters. The ultimate decision always remains in the driver's hands but with a richer and more effective set of information. Said system can be used together with mobile devices, provided with 5G antennas, so as to create an ecosystem that is always connected, which allows for the harmonization of urban traffic by sending signals and warnings immediately. The present invention also comprises an application for mobile devices which has the function of supporting the communication system between vehicles in order to implement some additional services such as statistical analysis of detected problems and other related services. The invention comprises a GPS geolocation system capable of memorizing the position in which the danger signals and possible accidents have occurred. Furthermore, the presence of additional input keys on the user's smart device, such as an emergency key, allows, if typed, an immediate notification to the competent authorities of the presence of an emergency situation and the contextual sending of the position detected by the GPS system. In this way, an emergency intervention, if necessary, can arrive in a timely manner, without the waste of time linked to the call with the mobile phone, which often in the throes of the agitation of the moment cannot be carried out with full efficiency, timeliness and clarity, especially in describing the place where one is and where the accident occurred. A further practical application of the present invention is the specific function dedicated to signaling temporary stops that obstruct traffic. Very often, in fact, one finds oneself blocked by a vehicle temporarily double-parked which prevents one's freedom to move, to remedy this frequent and annoying situation, the present communication device, once the anomalous situation has been reported by the information coming from the photo cameras installed on one’s vehicle, is able to make an automatic call or send an SMS to the telephone of the owner of the parked vehicle, attaching the position in which the vehicle is currently located, obtained through the GPS system, and alerting him/her of the need to move it as soon as possible. The advantages offered by the present invention are clear in the light of the above description and will be even clearer from the accompanying figures and the related detailed description. Description of the figures The invention will hereinafter be described in at least a preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which: - FIGURE 1 shows the main elements constituting said system of devices for anonymous emergency communication for vehicles. Said elements provide a plurality of communication devices 100 positioned inside each vehicle which decides to adopt said system, allowing the communication of a plurality of emergency situations and at the same time the total preservation of the privacy of the passengers. Said communication devices are characterized in that they comprise a plurality of modules such as: a processor 101 suitable to carry out all the computational functions, a photo camera 102 with a wide visual angle with a fixed framing on the same view of the driver suitable to send the taken images to said processor 101, a touchscreen display 103 suitable to show an interface in which the images taken by said photo camera 102 are displayed and suitable to record the touch of the user who indicates a possible vehicle at risk and an acoustic alarm 105, suitable to signal to the driver of the vehicle in a dangerous situation the warning sent by the vehicle transmitter of the wireless signal. In order to guarantee short-range communication, the system also provides a specific 5G antenna 104 suitable to transmit any message of possible danger between the sender vehicle and the recipient vehicle, indicated by the driver of the first vehicle on said display 103. Furthermore, additional optional modules are illustrated which enrich the system's functions. Said modules comprise a GPS geolocation system 400 suitable to memorize the position in which the signals and any accidents occurred and additional keys 600 for user input, including at least an emergency key 601 to immediately report the presence of an emergency situation to the competent authorities. Furthermore, a device 107 is also shown, positioned on the steering wheel, comprising an electric motor which, turning, provides a slight vibration after the system has detected possible danger of collision and driver fatigue by means of said photo camera 102. Finally, said system also comprises smart tires provided with a plurality of sensors 108, suitable to communicate the potentially dangerous conditions of the road surface to the vehicle and to the infrastructure becoming integrated in a 5G communication. - FIGURE 2 shows the operation of the 5G wireless communication system which includes the following technologies: o “vehicle-to-vehicle”, referred to as V2V 200, suitable to prevent collision between two interconnected vehicles; o “vehicle-to-infrastructure”, referred to as V2I 201, suitable to acquire data on the infrastructure and provide the driver of the vehicle with real time warnings on aspects such as road conditions, traffic congestion, accidents, construction areas and parking availability; o “vehicle-to-pedestrian”, referred to as V2P 202, suitable to warn pedestrians and cyclists of an approaching vehicle. Detailed description of the invention The present invention will now be described purely by way of non-limiting or binding example with the aid of the figures, which illustrate some embodiments relative to the present inventive concept. With reference to FIG. 1, the main components constituting the present invention are illustrated. Said system provides for a plurality of communication devices 100 positioned inside each vehicle that adopts the system, suitable to allow the communication of a plurality of emergency situations and at the same time to totally preserve the privacy of the passengers. Said communication devices include various component elements such as: - a processor 101 suitable to carry out all computational functions, the processing of the images and of wireless signals and communication through the Internet; - a photo camera 102 with wide visual angle with a fixed framing on the view of the driver suitable to send the taken images to said processor 101; - a touchscreen display 103 suitable to show an interface in which the images taken by said photo camera 102 are displayed and suitable to record the touch of the user who in this way indicates on the recorded image which of the surrounding vehicles has a malfunction or a potential danger to circulation, and - an acoustic alarm 105 suitable to signal to the driver of the vehicle in a dangerous situation the warning sent by the vehicle transmitter of the wireless signal. As regards the reception of the signal, on the other hand, the system monitors and checks whether the information transmitted corresponds to that of the vehicle on which it is installed, activating said acoustic alarm 105 if so. Furthermore, when an emergency situation is detected, the device 107 positioned on the steering wheel provides a slight vibration. Said device 107, made entirely of composite materials, is provided with an electric motor, which rotates an eccentric mass. When the motor rotates, it reproduces a relatively light vibration on the steering wheel similar to that of a mobile phone, in such a way as to warn the driver of a potential risk shown on the touchscreen display 103. The invention also has, in an optional version, smart tires provided with a plurality of sensors 108, suitable to communicate the potentially dangerous conditions of the road surface to the vehicle and to the infrastructure becoming integrated in a 5G communication. Said sensors 108 allow the driver to be warned that it is necessary to check the pressure to continue driving safely. Or, in the case of a seasonal tire change, which often implies a different speed index with winter ones, it warns the driver when the maximum speed allowed for the type of tire used has been exceeded. These reports reach the driver via: - vibration emitted by the device 107; - notification shown on the touchscreen display 103 and on the software application installed on the personal mobile device. In addition to anticipating potentially dangerous situations such as loss of grip and aquaplaning, said sensors 108 above all have the function of perceiving the grip conditions given by the type of road surface and weather conditions, so as to suggest to the driver to slow down if the asphalt is detected as slimy, adapt electronic controls to increase safety and, with 5G connectivity between vehicles, alert vehicles of potential imminent danger. The system of the present invention, in its most equipped version, comprises the integration of a GPS geolocation system 400 suitable to memorize the position in which the reports and any accidents occurred. In fact, said GPS system makes it possible to attach the position in which a parked vehicle is currently located and, through a specific function dedicated to signaling temporary stops and obstructions to traffic, in which, following a signaling, said communication device 100 makes an automatic call or sends an SMS to the vehicle owner's phone. In the event that the vehicle sensors perceive a serious impact, the automatic system dials the European emergency number 112 and, after establishing a telephone connection with the emergency switchboard, sends the data relating to the accident: time, position of the vehicle accident and direction of travel (particularly relevant if the incident occurred on a motorway or in a tunnel). The call can also be activated manually, using a special button in the vehicle; this feature is useful, for example, if one is witnessing an accident. With reference to FIG. 2, the technology that allows a vehicle to communicate with whatever is within its reach is shown: - other vehicles, with V2V 200 technology; - people (via mobile device), with V2P 202 technology; - highway, petrol stations, signals, traffic lights, tolls and many other elements, with V2I 201 technology. Said technologies also make it possible to improve the efficiency of global transport: by warning of impending traffic congestion and suggesting alternative routes, they help reduce CO 2 emissions, with an additional benefit of reducing vehicle maintenance. Hence, these technologies aim to create a scenario in which vehicles can communicate with their surroundings, including other cars, infrastructure and control systems, as well as people on foot and on light vehicles, bicycles and scooters. Furthermore, in this way the system provides dedicated short-range communications at the sub-6 GHz frequency, more advanced than the 802.11 WiFi standard: it is more stable and works better in the presence of obstacles. Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants may be made to the invention described thus far which are apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection that is provided by the appended claims.