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US-12617340-B1 - System and method for enhancing driver situational awareness in a transportation vehicle

US12617340B1US 12617340 B1US12617340 B1US 12617340B1US-12617340-B1

Abstract

A method for enhancing situational awareness in a transportation vehicle includes locating at least one camera on the vehicle. Upon activation of a vehicle brake, the camera is automatically paired with a computing device located inside the vehicle.

Inventors

  • Jerry K. Hubbell
  • Alan C. Lesesky

Assignees

  • Spirited Eagle Enterprises, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20240827

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method for determining a situational environment of a transportation vehicle, said method comprising: locating at least one camera on the vehicle; upon activating a vehicle brake when the vehicle is at rest, automatically pairing the camera with a computing device located inside the vehicle; and upon activating an ABS braking system of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion, automatically performing at least one of: (i) a using the video camera, capturing video data of an environmental area on which the camera is focused at a time the ABS braking system is activated; and (ii) using the video camera and computing device, capturing video data of an environmental area on which the camera is focused at a time the ABS braking system is activated, and storing the video data in memory of the computing device; and (iii) using the video camera and computing device, capturing video data of an environmental area on which the camera is focused at a time the ABS braking system is activated, and transmitting the video data to a remote computing device.
  2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a video camera.
  3. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a CCTV.
  4. 4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises an IP-based digital still camera.
  5. 5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a tablet computer with an integrated display screen.
  6. 6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a web-enabled smartphone.
  7. 7 . The method according to claim 1 , and comprising enrolling the camera on a user network in a secured online user account.
  8. 8 . The method according to claim 7 , and comprising logging in to the user account via a security password.
  9. 9 . The method according to claim 1 , and comprising capturing realtime vehicle information using the camera.
  10. 10 . The method according to claim 9 , and comprising wirelessly transmitting the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera to a remote server.
  11. 11 . The method according to claim 9 , and comprising recording and storing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera using an onboard network-attached digital video recorder.
  12. 12 . The method according to claim 9 , and comprising recording and storing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera using internal flash memory.
  13. 13 . The method according to claim 9 , and comprising using Video Content Analysis (VCA) for automatically analyzing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera.
  14. 14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is activated automatically without user intervention.
  15. 15 . The method according to claim 1 , and comprising combining a plurality realtime vehicle data signal feeds of respective user networks in a single networked multi-user system.
  16. 16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the camera utilizes facial recognition technology.
  17. 17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises application software for enabling a dashboard-centric interface with icon tabs for manually activating the camera on a user network, such that when the user clicks on an icon tab, realtime vehicle information transmitted by the camera is output to the user.
  18. 18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises an onboard electronic recorder.
  19. 19 . A method for determining a situational environment of a transportation vehicle, said method comprising: locating at least one camera on the vehicle; upon activating a vehicle brake when the vehicle is at rest, automatically pairing the camera with a computing device located inside the vehicle; and upon activating an ABS braking system of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion: (i) using a vehicle data bus operatively connected to the ABS braking system to communicate vehicle braking information to the computing device; (ii) using the camera to automatically capture video data of an environmental area on which the camera is focused at a time the ABS braking system is activated; and (iii) at the time the ABS braking system is activated, using the computing device to perform at least one of storing the video data, transmitting the video data to a remote computing device, storing GPS location data, and transmitting GPS location data to a remote computing device.
  20. 20 . A method for determining a situational environment of a transportation vehicle, said method comprising: locating a plurality of cameras on the vehicle; upon activating a vehicle brake when the vehicle is at rest, automatically pairing the cameras with a computing device located inside the vehicle; and upon activating an ABS braking system of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion: (i) using a vehicle data bus operatively connected to the ABS braking system to communicate vehicle braking information to the computing device; (ii) using the cameras to automatically capture video data of an environmental area on which the cameras are focused at a time the ABS braking system is activated; and (iii) at the time the ABS braking system is activated, using the computing device to perform at least one of storing the video data, transmitting the video data to a remote computing device, storing GPS location data, and transmitting GPS location data to a remote computing device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This disclosure relates broadly and generally to a system and method for enhancing driver situational awareness in a transportation vehicle. Other embodiments and implementations of the present disclosure may be applicable in completing visual systems and parts inspections, cargo inspections, trailer inspections, vehicle operation monitoring, security surveillance, driver performance monitoring, safety checks, and others-all done by the driver from within the cab or by an administrator from a remote location. The present example of the invention, discussed further herein, involves technology and methodology for enhancing driver situational awareness by increasing viewing areas within and surrounding the vehicle. The ability to “see” within and around the vehicle is of fundamental importance for any driver. This is particularly evident when lane changing/merging, turning and cornering, backing-up, starting forward movement, passing beneath overhead structures, and other such maneuvers. Vision or “blind spot” problems in the heavy-duty trucking industry has resulted in action taken by the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Association (ATA). The TMC recently issued a position paper demanding that the industry improve the ability of drivers to see, and specified a minimum set of vision targets deemed essential. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Truck and Bus Council also established a Vision Task Force in the Human Factors Committee. While This Task Force upgraded SAE Standard J1750 with additional methodology to measure vision, it did not include the acceptance criteria requested by TMC. A Vision Task Force was therefore established in TMC to define the minimum viewable targets required to measure improved vision in heavy trucks. TMC issued Recommended Practice (RP-428) entitled “Guidelines for Vision Devices” after conducting a survey among drivers to determine the priority ranking of vision targets during specific driving maneuvers. The vision targets specified in RP-428 are illustrated in FIG. 1—at respective solid circular markers “M”. In various exemplary embodiments discussed herein, the present disclosure provides situation assessment tools applicable for allowing drivers to “see” (or sense) a broader area around and adjacent the vehicle-including the targets specified in RP-428. As described further herein, the disclosure utilizes various computer and communications technologies, electronics, sensors, controllers, and data buses to enhance driver situational awareness and situational understanding. Vehicle Data Bus In the heavy duty trucking industry, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has developed standards for the physical layer and data elements to be used for an onboard network. The SAE sought to establish this standard across all brands of heavy duty trucks—the original standard being recognized by two designators: J1708—the physical layer (i.e., twisted-pair wiring), and J1587—the message layer or data format. This standard was put into production, and included a specific diagnostic connector (commonly referred to as the 6-pin “Deutsch” connector) to be used on all heavy duty vehicles. This connector provided access to the vehicle bus along with battery power and ground connections with an option for a connection to a proprietary network that may be available on the vehicle. One more recent standard (SAE J1939) customized the requirements for the physical connections and data elements to meet the requirements of the heavy duty vehicle environment. With J1939, data rates were now up to 250 Kbits/second and more control modules were supported in the network. J1939 also has its own unique connector-still called a Deutsch plug, but changed to 9-pins. The connector still has power, ground and J1708 connections in addition to the new J1939 wires. It also added the option for a second CAN connection for proprietary data networks. As new requirements are added for additional vehicle safety features such as body control modules, stability control and other third-party safety-system components, J1939 has continued to evolve and has been upgraded to a 500 Kbits/second network based on a new standard, J1939-14. Other exemplary interface standards include SAE J1850, SAE J1455, SAE J2497 [PLC], RS232, OBD 2, CAN1 and CAN2. SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below. Use of the term “exemplary” means illustrative or by way of example only, and any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “exemplary embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, s