Application software for overhead obstacle detection and avoidance system for vehicles
AssigneeFrancis C. Nugent
InventorsFrancis C Nugent, Brian Nugent
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device may determine a geographical location and direction of a vehicle traveling on a highway, street or road, the vehicle having a known height. A device may determine the presence of a nearby overhead hazard toward which the vehicle is traveling. A device may retrieve from a database a height of the nearby overhead hazard. A device may compare height of the nearby overhead hazard to the known height of the vehicle. A device may provide an audible warning to the driver that the overhead hazard is too low for the vehicle to safely pass.
Claims20
A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an overhead hazard, the method comprising steps of:
- providing a database storing locations and heights of overhead hazards;
- determining, using an automatic geolocation service associated with a first driver of a first vehicle, a real-time location of the first vehicle, the first vehicle having a known height;
- transmitting, from the database to a warning module associated with the first driver of the first vehicle, a location and height of an overhead hazard near the location of the first vehicle;
- when the overhead hazard is too low for the first vehicle to safely pass below the overhead hazard:
- causing the warning module to warn the first driver before the first vehicle reaches the overhead hazard;
- transmitting, from an overhead hazard tracker associated with a second driver of a second vehicle to the database, a location and height of a new overhead hazard;
- and
- updating the database to include the location and height of the new overhead hazard.
A system to warn a driver of a vehicle of an overhead hazard, the system comprising:
- a database storing locations and heights of overhead hazards;
- a warning module associated with the first driver of the first vehicle, the warning module configured to:
- determine, using an automatic geolocation service, a real-time location of the first vehicle, the first vehicle having a known height;
- receive, from the database, a location and height of an overhead hazard near the location of the first vehicle;
- when the overhead hazard is too low for the first vehicle to safely pass below the overhead hazard:
- provide a warning to the first driver before the first vehicle reaches the overhead hazard;
- an overhead hazard tracker associated with a second driver of a second vehicle, the overhead hazard tracker configured to:
- determine a location and height of the new overhead hazard;
- transmit the location and height of the new overhead hazard to the database;
- wherein
- the database is updated periodically or continuously to include the location and height of the new overhead hazard.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.