Detecting an object outside of a field of view

A system for detecting an object, the system comprising:

• one or more processors disposed on a vehicle and configured to receive, from a first object, a message, the message including information about a position of a second object;
• a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
• a detection and ranging device control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
• cause an electromagnetic energy to be transmitted in a direction of the second object at a time in which the second object is in motion;
• and
• receive a reflection of the electromagnetic energy from the direction of the second object;
• and
• a position determination module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
• determine, from the reflection of the electromagnetic energy,
• a first possible position of a third object based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled entirely along a first path, the first path being defined by a line formed by the second object and the vehicle, the first path having a first distance, the first distance being equal to a sum of a distance between the vehicle and the second object added to a distance between the second object and the first possible position;
• determine, from the reflection of the electromagnetic energy,
• a second possible position of the third object based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled along a second path, the second path being at least partially outside of the line, the second path having a second distance, the second distance being equal to the sum of the distance between the vehicle and the second object added to a distance between the second object and the second possible position, the second distance being equal to the first distance;
• and
• determine, based on an analysis of at least one of a characteristic of at least one of the first object or the second object, a characteristic of the first possible position, or a relationship between a size of the second object and a size of the third object, that an actual position of the third object is the second possible position of the third object.

A method for detecting an object, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a processor disposed on a vehicle and from a first object, a message, the message including information about a position of the first object;
• causing, by the processor, an electromagnetic energy to be transmitted in a direction of the first object at a time in which the first object is in motion;
• receiving, by the processor, a reflection of the electromagnetic energy from the direction of the first object;
• determining, by the processor and from the reflection of the electromagnetic energy,
• a first possible position of a second object based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled entirely along a first path, the first path being defined by a line formed by the first object and the vehicle, the first path having a first distance, the first distance being equal to a sum of a distance between the vehicle and the first object added to a distance between the first object and the first possible position;
• determining, by the processor and from the reflection of the electromagnetic energy,
• a second possible position of the second object based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled along a second path, the second path being at least partially outside of the line, the second path having a second distance, the second distance being equal to the sum of the distance between the vehicle and the first object added to a distance between the first object and the second possible position, the second distance being equal to the first distance;
• and
• determining, by the processor and based on an analysis of at least one of a characteristic of the first object, a characteristic of the first possible position, or a relationship between a size of the first object and a size of the second object, that an actual position of the second object is the second possible position of the second object.