Near object detection system

A near object detection system comprising:

• a plurality of target sensors coupled to a vehicle, each of the target sensors for providing target data, wherein the target sensors include at least one of:
• an infrared (IR) sensor and a radar sensor;
• a processor for receiving the target data, processing the data and providing a processor output coupled to one or more vehicle safety systems;
• wherein the processor includes a combiner for combining track files generated by respective ones of the plurality of target sensors.

A near object detection system comprising:

• a plurality of target sensors coupled to a vehicle, each of the target sensors for providing target data, wherein the target sensors include at least one of:
• an infrared (IR) sensor and a radar sensor;
• and
• a processor for receiving the target data, processing the data and providing a processor output coupled to one or more vehicle safety systems, wherein the processor includes:
• a multi-hypothesis tracker (MHT) adapted to receive the target data provided by the one or more target sensors;
• an association hypothesis generator coupled to the MHT;
• a state variable filter coupled to the association hypothesis generator and further coupled to the MHT;
• a public track generator coupled to the association hypothesis generator, wherein the public track generator transforms the local coordinates of positional tracks associated with targets to a vehicle global coordinate system;
• a data fuser coupled to the public track generator, wherein the data fuser combines the data tracks associated with each of the plurality of target sensors to provide fused public tracks;
• a track quality generator coupled to the data fuser, wherein the track quality generator determines data quality values associated with the fused public tracks;
• a discriminator coupled to the public track generator and to the track quality generator, wherein the discriminator provides sensor scheduling information;
• and
• a vehicle crash management operator coupled to the track quality generator and to the discriminator, wherein the vehicle crash management operator provides control actions to the vehicle safety systems.

A near object detection method comprising:

• target tracking with a plurality of target sensors coupled to a vehicle, each of the target sensors for providing detection coverage in a predetermined coverage zone, and each of which provides target data, wherein the target tracking includes at least one of:
• imaging with an infrared (IR) sensor;
• and radar sensing with a radar sensor;
• and
• sharing the target data provided by each of the plurality of target sensors in a processor to provide a processor output coupled to one or more vehicle safety systems, wherein the sharing the target data includes combining track files generated by respective ones of the plurality of target sensors.

A near object detection method comprising:

• target tracking with a plurality of target sensors coupled to a vehicle, each of the target sensors for providing detection coverage in a predetermined coverage zone, and each of which provides target data, wherein the target tracking includes at least one of:
• imaging with an infrared (IR) sensor;
• and radar sensing with a radar sensor;
• and
• sharing the target data provided by each of the plurality of target sensors in a processor to provide a processor output coupled to one or more vehicle safety systems, wherein the sharing the target data includes:
• comparing track hypotheses with a multi-hypothesis tracker (MHT) adapted to receive the target data provided by the one or more target sensors;
• testing track hypotheses with an association hypothesis generator coupled to the MHT;
• filtering with a state variable filter coupled to the association hypothesis generator and further coupled to the MHT;
• generating public tracks with a public track generator coupled to the association hypothesis generator, wherein the public track generator transforms the local coordinates of positional tracks associated with targets to a vehicle global coordinate system;
• data fusing with a data fuser coupled to the public track generator, wherein the data fuser combines the target data associated with each of the plurality of target sensors to provide fused public tracks;
• generating track quality values with a track quality generator coupled to the data fuser, wherein the track quality generator determines data quality values associated with the fused public tracks;
• discriminating with a discriminator coupled to the public track generator and to the track quality generator, wherein the discriminator provides sensor scheduling information;
• and
• controlling actions of safety systems coupled to the vehicle with a vehicle crash management operator coupled to the track quality generator and to the discriminator, wherein the vehicle crash management operator provides control actions to the vehicle safety systems.