Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sushanta Das

Ivan Vukovic

Samer Ibrahim

Krishna Bandi

Jovan Milivoje Zagajac

Brennan Hamilton

Thomas E Apczynski

Syed Amaar Ahmad

Azin Neishaboori

John Cardillo

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to vehicle detection systems and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle detection system that is provided in a first vehicle receives a map generated by a vehicle detection system of a second vehicle. The map, which can be a cardinal map, for example, indicates a third vehicle that is detected by the vehicle detection system of the second vehicle and is undetectable by the first vehicle due to various reasons. For example, the first vehicle may fail to detect the third vehicle due to signal blocking caused by an intervening vehicle located between the first vehicle and the third vehicle, or due to the loss of radio-frequency (RF) signal reception by the vehicle detection system in the first vehicle. The second vehicle can detect the third vehicle by using radio-frequency (RF) signals and to convey the information to the first vehicle.

Vehicle detection systems and methods

An on-board unit of a vehicle includes first and second transceivers. A processor of the vehicle monitors transmissions received from the first and second transceivers, receives an incoming message sent to the processor from the first transceiver, the incoming message being designated for distribution to roadway participants, identifies based on the monitored transmissions whether the second transceiver is in communication with devices of roadway participants available to receive outgoing messages, and if so, construct an outgoing message based on the incoming message and send the outgoing message via the second transceiver, and monitors vehicle network bus traffic to identify a current speed of the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle moving at least a threshold speed, construct and send vehicle-information outgoing messages including roadway observations of the vehicle, using the first transceiver and the second transceiver, the vehicle-information outgoing messages being designated for distribution to the roadway participants.

Method and apparatus for bridging and optimizing V2X networks in vehicles

A road-side unit includes a first transceiver configured to communicate using a first vehicle-to-infrastructure protocol and a second transceiver configured to communicate using a second vehicle-to-infrastructure protocol, the first vehicle-to-infrastructure protocol and the second vehicle-to-infrastructure protocol being incompatible with one another. The road-side unit further includes a processor programmed to monitor transmissions from the first and second transceivers, receive an incoming message sent to the processor from the first transceiver, the incoming message being designated for distribution to roadway participants, identify based on the monitored transmissions whether the second transceiver is in communication with devices of roadway participants available to receive outgoing messages, and if so, construct an outgoing message based on the incoming message and send the outgoing message via the second transceiver.

Method and apparatus for bridging and optimizing V2X networks

Vehicle road usage is monitored via vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. From each of a plurality of vehicles via one or more RSUs communicating with vehicles using V2X communication, anonymized data is received indicating routing of the respective vehicle along roadways over time and location. From each of the plurality of vehicles via the one or more RSUs, non-anonymized usage amounts are received indicative of a cost incurred by the respective vehicle for overall usage of the roadway by the respective vehicle, the usage amounts being computed by the respective vehicle according to usage metrics broadcast by the one or more RSUs. Roadway areas of high roadway usage are identified according to the anonymized data. The usage metrics are updated to incentivize alternative routes to routes traversing the roadway areas of high roadway usage. The usage metrics, as updated, are broadcast for receipt by the plurality of vehicles.

V2X vehicle road usage

A system for light-based vehicle-device communication includes a computer programmed to generate a first light pattern based on a received identifier, actuate a vehicle light according to the first light pattern, and then identify, from received image data, a second light pattern emitted from outside of the vehicle. The system may further include a mobile computing device programmed to generate the second light pattern based on a received vehicle identifier, and actuate a mobile device light according to the second light pattern. The mobile computing device may be programmed to identify, from received image data, the first light pattern.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Sushanta Das