Warning system for alerting a vulnerable road user of a predicted collision with a hidden approaching vehicle

A warning system for alerting a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) of a predicted collision, the warning system comprising:

• at least one input device for transmitting a first input signal associated with a first vehicle positioned in a first lane of a roadway, a second input signal associated with a second vehicle positioned in a second lane of the roadway adjacent to the first lane, and a third input signal associated with the VRU located on a crosswalk that extends across the first and second lanes;
• at least one roadway notification device coupled to at least one of the roadway and the first vehicle, with at least one roadway notification device positioned within a line of sight of the VRU and notifying the VRU that the second vehicle is positioned in the second lane and headed toward the crosswalk;
• and
• a computer mounted to each of the first vehicle and a roadside sensor unit, the computer comprising:
• at least one processor electrically connected to the at least one input device and receiving the first, second, and third input signals from the at least one input device;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) for storing instructions, such that the at least one processor is programmed to:
• determine the predicted collision between the second vehicle and the VRU at a predicted collision site within a predicted time to collision based on the second and third input signals;
• generate an actuation signal in response to the at least one processor determining the predicted collision;
• wherein the at least one roadway notification device notifies the VRU that the second vehicle is positioned in the second lane and headed toward predicted collision site in the crosswalk in response to the at least one roadway notification device receiving the actuation signal from the at least one processor.

A method of operating a warning system for alerting a Vulnerable Road User (VRU) of a predicted collision, the method comprising:

• transmitting, using at least one input device, a first input signal associated with a first vehicle positioned in a first lane of a roadway;
• transmitting, using the at least one input device, a second input signal associated with a second vehicle positioned in a second lane of the roadway adjacent to the first lane;
• transmitting, using the at least one input device, a third input signal associated with the VRU located on a crosswalk that extends across the first and second lanes;
• determining, using at least one processor of a computer that has a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) for storing instructions, the predicted collision between the second vehicle and the VRU at a predicted collision site within a predicted time to collision based on the second and third input signals;
• generating, using the at least one processor, an actuation signal in response to the at least one processor determining the predicted collision;
• and
• notifying, using at least one roadway notification device, the VRU that the second vehicle is positioned in the second lane and headed toward the predicted collision site in the crosswalk in response to the at least one roadway notification device receiving the actuation signal from the at least one processor.