Method and system of cooperative collision mitigation

Abstract

Identifying an object includes the steps of using a sensor onboard a subject vehicle to identify an imminent impact between the subject vehicle and an object, directing and transmitting an elicitation signal to the object from the subject vehicle, receiving onboard the subject vehicle a response signal from the object providing information that positively identifies the object, using the positive identification information to predict a severity level of the imminent collision, and selectively deploying at least one responsive device onboard the subject vehicle according to the predicted severity level. Also, a system for implementing the method is provided. The system includes a sensor, attachable to a subject vehicle, for identifying an imminent collision between the subject vehicle and an object; a first computer for processing dynamics data for the subject vehicle; a second computer for predicting a severity level of the imminent collision; an antenna; a transmitter for transmitting an elicitation signal via the antenna to the object; a reflector or transponder for sending a response signal from the object to the subject vehicle wherein the response signal provides information positively identifying the object; and a receiver for receiving the response signal via the antenna from the object.