System and method for synchronized vehicle sensor data acquisition processing using vehicular communication

A system for controlling vehicle sensor data acquisition using a vehicular communication network, comprising:

• a first vehicle configured for computer communication with a second vehicle using the vehicular communication network;
• and
• a processor of the first vehicle that receives a global time signal from a global positioning source and synchronizes a local clock signal of the first vehicle with the global time signal;
• the processor determines a capture interval for a sensor data acquisition process time that minimizes a time between triggering actuation of a sensor of the first vehicle and a sensor of the second vehicle based on a number of vehicles within a predetermined distance from the first vehicle;
• the processor actuates, according to the capture interval, the sensor of the first vehicle to capture sensor data from the sensor of the first vehicle and the sensor of the second vehicle to capture sensor data from the sensor of the second vehicle, wherein the first vehicle transmits to the second vehicle the sensor data from the sensor of the first vehicle acquired by the actuation of the sensor of the first vehicle, and the second vehicle transmits to the first vehicle the sensor data from the sensor of the second vehicle by the actuation of the sensor of the second vehicle.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• establish an operable connection for computer communication between a first vehicle and a second vehicle;
• acquire a global time signal from a global position source;
• synchronize a local clock signal of the first vehicle with the global time signal, and synchronize a local clock signal of the second vehicle with the global time signal;
• determining a capture interval for a sensor data acquisition process time that minimizes a time between triggering actuation of a sensor of the first vehicle and a sensor of the second vehicle based on a number of vehicles within a predetermined distance from the first vehicle;
• generate a first sensor trigger pulse according to the capture interval to the sensor of the first vehicle thereby triggering acquisition of sensor data from the sensor of the first vehicle;
• and
• generate a second sensor trigger pulse according to the capture interval to the sensor of the second vehicle thereby triggering acquisition of sensor data from the sensor of the second vehicle.

A computer-implemented method for controlling vehicle sensor data acquisition of a vehicle using a vehicular communication network, comprising:

• establishing an operable connection for computer communication between a plurality of vehicles using the vehicular communication network, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles includes a processor, a local clock, and a sensor, and wherein the plurality of vehicles includes a first vehicle;
• using the operable connection for computer communication, synchronizing the local clock of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles with a global time signal from a global positioning source;
• determining a capture interval for a clock cycle of the local clock of each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, wherein the capture interval minimizes a time between triggering actuation of each sensor of the plurality of vehicles based on a number of vehicles within a predetermined distance from the vehicle;
• and
• actuating, according to the capture interval, each sensor of the plurality of vehicles thereby acquiring sensor data from each sensor of the plurality of vehicles, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles transmits the sensor data to the other vehicles in the plurality of vehicles.