Abstract: A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal.

Abstract: A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal.

Abstract: A method to operate a vehicle during a grid-lock traffic condition includes monitoring a vehicle speed, tracking a target vehicle in proximity of the vehicle including monitoring a range to the target vehicle, monitoring activation of a grid unlock mode when the vehicle speed is less than a threshold grid-lock speed, monitoring a location of the vehicle based upon data from a GPS device, monitoring a distance envelope with respect to the vehicle, and controlling operation of the vehicle while the vehicle speed remains less than the threshold grid-lock speed based upon the vehicle speed, the range to the target vehicle, the location of the vehicle, and the distance envelope. Controlling operation of the vehicle includes controlling acceleration of the vehicle, controlling braking of the vehicle, and controlling steering of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for returning driver control in a vehicle during automatic braking includes the steps of determining a minimum value of accelerator pedal position during the automatic braking, determining a current value of accelerator pedal position, and disengaging the automatic braking, if the current value is greater than the minimum value by at least a predetermined value.

Abstract: A low cost radar system that employs monopulse beamforming to detect objects in the road-way both in elevation and azimuth. In one non-limiting embodiment, a beamforming receiver architecture includes a first beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the first beamforming device, and a second beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the second beamforming device. The first and second beamforming devices are oriented 90° relative to each other so that the receive beams provided by the first beamforming device detect objects in azimuth and the receive beams provided by the second beamforming device detect objects in elevation. A first switch is provided to selectively couple the sum pattern signal from the first and second beamforming devices to one output line, and a second switch is provided to selectively couple the difference pattern signals from the first and second beamforming devices to another output line.

Abstract: Transmission shift history is tracked using the current transmission state and the immediately preceding transmission state and the vehicle speed during a cycle of Neutral transmission state. Vehicular safety and convenience applications are extended to Neutral states of the transmission.

Abstract: A method for identifying available parking spaces. The method includes receiving data about a parking space from a vehicle, the data including a geographic indicator associated with the parking space. The data is stored in a database of available parking spaces. A geographic location is received from a parking space requestor. The database is searched for an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location. If an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location is located in the database, a geographic indicator associated with the available parking space is transmitted to the parking space requester.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting and avoiding an obstacle using a system of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of detecting a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle, generating an action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a threshold, determining whether an override of the system has been initiated, and disabling the action if it is determined that the override has been initiated. The system includes an obstacle detector, an action generator, an override mechanism, and a processor configured to implement the steps of the method set forth above.

Abstract: A haptic alert system generally includes an active material based actuator for providing the haptic alert. The active material based actuators refer to the use of several different classes of active materials all of which exhibit a change in at least one attribute such as dimension, shape, and/or flexural modulus when subjected to at least one of many different types of applied activation signals, examples of such signals being thermal, electrical, magnetic, stress, and the like.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system for reducing false alerts by estimating the elevation of a target, includes short and long range single-dimensional scanning radar sensors having differing ranges and beam angles of inclination, and a digital fusion processor, and preferably includes a locator device, an inclinometer, and a memory storage device cooperatively configured to further perform trend analysis, and target tracking.

Abstract: A low cost radar system that employs monopulse beamforming to detect objects in the road-way both in elevation and azimuth. In one non-limiting embodiment, a beamforming receiver architecture includes a first beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the first beamforming device, and a second beamforming device and a plurality of antennas coupled to the second beamforming device. The first and second beamforming devices are oriented 90° relative to each other so that the receive beams provided by the first beamforming device detect objects in azimuth and the receive beams provided by the second beamforming device detect objects in elevation. A first switch is provided to selectively couple the sum pattern signal from the first and second beamforming devices to one output line, and a second switch is provided to selectively couple the difference pattern signals from the first and second beamforming devices to another output line.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system for reducing false alerts by estimating the elevation of a target, includes short and long range single-dimensional scanning radar sensors having differing ranges and beam angles of inclination, and a digital fusion processor, and preferably includes a locator device, an inclinometer, and a memory storage device cooperatively configured to further perform trend analysis, and target tracking.

Abstract: A target tracking and sensory fusion system is adapted for use with a vehicle, and configured to observe a condition of at least one object during a cycle. The system includes a plurality of sensors, and a novel controller communicatively coupled to the sensors and configured to more accurately estimate the condition based on sensory fusion. In a preferred embodiment, Kalman filtering is utilized to produce a fused estimate of the object location. The preferred controller is further configured to match each new sensory observation with a track in a track list, and remove the track from the track list, when a matching observation is not determined, during a subsequent cycle.

Abstract: A method for returning driver control in a vehicle during automatic braking includes the steps of determining a minimum value of accelerator pedal position during the automatic braking, determining a current value of accelerator pedal position, and disengaging the automatic braking, if the current value is greater than the minimum value by at least a predetermined value.

Abstract: An integrated multi-beam antenna with a shared dielectric lens is disclosed. The antenna is formed by positioning the feed apertures of a plurality of waveguide feeds at positions located on the surface of the shared dielectric lens. The angular direction and shape of radiation beams produced by the waveguide feeds are determined by the physical and dielectric characteristics of the lens, the location of feed apertures of the waveguide feeds on the surface of the lens, and the frequency of electromagnetic energy propagating in the waveguide feeds. The principles of the invention are applied to realize an inexpensive, integrated multi-feed antenna adapted to provide desired angular areas of coverage for both a long range and short range radar in an automotive radar safety system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting and avoiding an obstacle using a system of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of detecting a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle, generating an action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a threshold, determining whether an override of the system has been initiated, and disabling the action if it is determined that the override has been initiated. The system includes an obstacle detector, an action generator, an override mechanism, and a processor configured to implement the steps of the method set forth above.

Abstract: A rear obstacle detection and avoidance system for use on a vehicle comprises a rear obstacle detector that is coupled to the vehicle and measures the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle's rear, a speed sensor that determines vehicle speed, an alert generator that notifies an occupant of the vehicle of a rear obstacle, and a processor that is coupled to the rear obstacle detector, the speed sensor, and the alert generator. The processor causes the generation of a first alert when the vehicle's speed is less than a threshold speed and the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle substantially to the vehicle's rear is less than a first distance determined in accordance with a first function of speed vs. distance.

Abstract: An integrated multi-beam antenna with a shared dielectric lens is disclosed. The antenna is formed by positioning the feed apertures of a plurality of waveguide feeds at positions located on the surface of the shared dielectric lens. The angular direction and shape of radiation beams produced by the waveguide feeds are determined by the physical and dielectric characteristics of the lens, the location of feed apertures of the waveguide feeds on the surface of the lens, and the frequency of electromagnetic energy propagating in the waveguide feeds. The principles of the invention are applied to realize an inexpensive, integrated multi-feed antenna adapted to provide desired angular areas of coverage for both a long range and short range radar in an automotive radar safety system.

Abstract: Active material based haptic communication and alert systems are provided. In an embodiment, a haptic alert system comprises: an active material in operative communication with a vehicle surface, the active material being capable of changing at least one attribute in response to an applied activation signal; and a controller in communication with the active material, wherein the controller is configured to selectively apply the activation signal, and wherein the vehicle surface has at least one property that changes with the change in the at least one attribute of the active material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting an object in the projected path of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a yaw sensor configured to determine the yaw of the vehicle and an object detection sensor configured to evaluate an Actual Range Bin and to produce obstruction data if an object is sensed within the Actual Range Bin. The apparatus also comprises a controller that is configured to receive the yaw determined by the yaw sensor and determine a projected path of the vehicle based at least in part upon the yaw. The controller is also configured to determine a True Range Bin based at least in part upon the projected path of the vehicle and the Actual Range Bin. The controller is further configured to receive the obstruction data from the object detection sensor and determine if the object is within the True Range Bin.