Selective electromagnetic device for vehicles
AssigneeGM Cruise Holdings LLC
InventorDaniel Kan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a selectively-activated magnetic strip under a vehicle chassis that is powered to pick up nails and other metal debris. The magnetic strip can be selectively activated using an electromagnet powered by the vehicle and controlled by an onboard computer. The magnetic strip can generally be powered on while the vehicle is driving and selectively deactivated based on mapping data to avoid interactions with metallic infrastructure. The magnetic strip can be selectively deactivated based on vehicle parameters, such as vehicle speed.
Claims18
A system for a vehicle to collect metallic road debris, comprising:
- an autonomous vehicle, including:
- a magnetic strip positioned under a vehicle chassis, wherein:
- in a first mode, the magnetic strip is activated, and
- in a second mode, the magnetic strip is deactivated;
- wherein when the magnetic strip is in a first mode, the magnetic strip attracts metallic objects from under the vehicle;
- a sensor system to detect an item on the magnetic strip;
- and
- an onboard computer configured to perform operations to control the magnetic strip, the operations comprising:
- determining that the vehicle speed is below a selected threshold;
- receiving first map data for a first vehicle location, wherein the onboard computer is to activate and deactivate the magnetic strip based on the first map data;
- determining if there is metallic infrastructure at the first vehicle location based on the first map data;
- and
- in response to determining that metallic infrastructure is not present at the first vehicle location, activating the magnetic strip to attract metallic objects from under the vehicle;
- and
- a central computing system to communicate the first map data to the onboard computer, wherein the first map data includes metallic infrastructure information.
A method for an autonomous vehicle to collect metallic road debris, comprising:
- determining, by an onboard computer, that the autonomous vehicle speed is below a selected threshold;
- receiving, by the onboard computer, first map data for a first vehicle location, wherein the onboard computer is to activate and deactivate an electromagnetic device attached to the autonomous vehicle based on the first map data;
- determining, by the onboard computer, if there is metallic infrastructure at the first vehicle location based on the first map data;
- and
- in response to determining that metallic infrastructure is not present at the first vehicle location, activating the electromagnetic device attached to the autonomous vehicle to attract metallic objects from under the vehicle.
A vehicle for collecting metallic road debris, comprising:
- a magnetic strip positioned under a vehicle chassis, wherein the magnetic strip includes a plurality of electromagnets, and wherein:
- in a first mode, the magnetic strip is activated,
- in a second mode, the magnetic strip is deactivated, and
- wherein when the magnetic strip is in a first mode, the magnetic strip attracts metallic objects from under the vehicle;
- a sensor system to detect an item on the magnetic strip;
- and
- an onboard computer configured to perform operations to control the magnetic strip, the operations comprising:
- determining that the vehicle speed is below a selected threshold;
- receiving first map data for a first vehicle location, wherein the onboard computer is to activate and deactivate each of the plurality of electromagnets based on the first map data;
- determining if there is metallic infrastructure at the first vehicle location based on the first map data;
- and
- in response to determining that metallic infrastructure is not present at the first vehicle location, activating the magnetic strip to attract metallic objects from under the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.