Systems and methods for estimating local traffic flow

#Embodiments described herein generally relate to determining traffic flow by probe vehicles and, more specifically, to facilitating communication between vehicles on roadways to more accurately determine traffic flow and identify traffic situations.

#Various approaches currently exist to estimate traffic flow on roadways. Historically, this estimation has been performed through infrastructure solutions, such as magnetic induction loops, which are embedded in the roadway surface or signal processing of data from radars or cameras, which are strategically placed with a good field of view of view above the roadway. While these solutions are often capable of determining traffic flow on a macro level (e.g., on the order of miles/kilometers of roadway), they are often deficient in providing more localized traffic conditions (e.g., on the order of hundreds of yards/meters of roadway). Accordingly, certain traffic conditions may be missed by current solutions.

#Included are embodiments for estimation of local traffic flow by probe vehicles. According to one embodiment, a method for estimation of local traffic flow by probe vehicles includes determining a driving habit of a user from historical data, determining a current location of a vehicle that the user is driving, and determining a current driving condition for the vehicle. Some embodiments include predicting a desired driving condition from the driving habit and the current location, comparing the desired driving condition with the current driving condition to determine a traffic congestion level, and sending a signal that indicates the traffic congestion level.

#The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the disclosure. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

#FIG. 1 schematically depicts a probe vehicle that may be used for determining local traffic flow, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

#FIG. 2 schematically depicts a computing device that may be configured to determine local traffic flow, according to embodiments disclosed herein;

#Embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for estimating local traffic flow. More specifically, in some embodiments, the traffic flow is estimated via a comparison of current vehicle speed with a posted speed limit. Similarly, in some embodiments, a desired vehicle speed may be determined and compared with a current speed of the vehicle. In some embodiments, mobility factors can be determined and compared with desired mobility conditions for a particular user. From these traffic flow determinations, the probe vehicle can communicate with other vehicles on the road to indicate traffic congestion.

#Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically depicts a probe vehicle 100 that may be used for determining local traffic flow, according to embodiments disclosed herein. As illustrated, the probe vehicle 100 may include one or more sensors 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d (where the sensor 102d is located on the opposite side of the vehicle 100 as the sensor 102b and the sensors 102a-102d are collectively referred to as “sensors 102”), a wireless communications device 104, and a vehicle computing device 106. The sensors 102 may include radar sensors, cameras, lasers, and/or other types of sensors that are configured to determine the presence of other vehicles in the proximity of the probe vehicle 100. Additionally, while the sensors 102 may include sensors specifically designed for sensing traffic congestion, in some embodiments, the sensors 102 may also be used for parking assistance, cruise control assistance, rear view assistance, and the like.

#Similarly, the wireless communications device 104 may be configured as an antenna for radio communications, cellular communications satellite communications, and the like. Similarly, the wireless communications device 104 may be configured exclusively for communication with other vehicles within a predetermined range. While the wireless communications device 104 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as an external antenna, it should be understood that this is merely an example, as some embodiments may be configured with an internal antenna or without an antenna at all.