A vehicle safety system performs close-in incipient collision detection that combines high sample rate near-field sensors with advanced real-time processing to accurately determine imminent threats and the likelihood of a collision before a collision occurs. This allows applicable countermeasures to be deployed based upon the probability of a collision, while also taking into account the type of threat and the impending impact's location on the vehicle. This radically new approach will soon transform the passive safety market to greatly reduce injuries from automotive crashes and save lives.

A vehicular safety system includes a rearward-viewing camera, a forward-viewing camera and an interior-viewing camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle. Image data captured by the forward-viewing camera is processed for (i) headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and/or (iii) object detection. Image data captured by the interior-viewing camera is processed for internal cabin surveillance. Responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rearward-viewing camera, (ii) the forward-viewing camera and (iii) the interior-viewing camera, and when reverse gear of the vehicle is not engaged, and responsive to determination of a potential collision involving the vehicle, a safety feature of the vehicle is triggered before actual collision occurs. If actual collision does not occur, the triggered safety feature returns to its condition that existed prior to determination of the potential collision.

A vehicular safety system includes a rearward-viewing camera, a forward-viewing camera and an interior-viewing camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle. Image data captured by the forward-viewing camera is processed for (i) headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and/or (iii) object detection. Image data captured by the interior-viewing camera is processed for internal cabin surveillance. Responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rearward-viewing camera, (ii) the forward-viewing camera and (iii) the interior-viewing camera, and when reverse gear of the vehicle is not engaged, and responsive to determination of a potential collision involving the vehicle, a safety feature of the vehicle is triggered before actual collision occurs. If actual collision does not occur, the triggered safety feature returns to its condition that existed prior to determination of the potential collision.

It is an expansion system (10) of parts (20) of a vehicle (VE) for reducing the impact resulting from a collision with another vehicle (VE′) or any obstacles, said expansion system (10) of parts (20) of a vehicle (VE) is comprised by the association of proximity/speed readers (30) with at least one electrical trigger device (40) housed in a gas release capsule (51) that has an association with at least one hermetically-sealed extension arm (50) that, once actuated, is responsible for displacing one or more components (20) that are part of the protective fairing of the vehicle (VE), such as the front (21) and/or rear (21a) bumper, door (P) plates and/or trim pieces (22), roof (T) plates and/or trim pieces, or other components that can be displaced relative to the vehicle (VE) fairing in collisions with obstacles or other vehicle(s) (VE′)

It is an expansion system (10) of parts (20) of a vehicle (VE) for reducing the impact resulting from a collision with another vehicle (VE′) or any obstacles, said expansion system (10) of parts (20) of a vehicle (VE) is comprised by the association of proximity/speed readers (30) with at least one electrical trigger device (40) housed in a gas release capsule (51) that has an association with at least one hermetically-sealed extension arm (50) that, once actuated, is responsible for displacing one or more components (20) that are part of the protective fairing of the vehicle (VE), such as the front (21) and/or rear (21a) bumper, door (P) plates and/or trim pieces (22), roof (T) plates and/or trim pieces, or other components that can be displaced relative to the vehicle (VE) fairing in collisions with obstacles or other vehicle(s) (VE′)

From a set of point data, a set of scattered rays is constructed. From the set of scattered rays, a set of ray slopes is computed. The set of ray slopes is mapped to a corresponding set of trigonometric functions. Using an optimization method, a parameter of the set of trigonometric functions is selected. Using an inverse of the set trigonometric functions, a vehicle mass corresponding to the set of point data is computed. Based on the vehicle mass, a threshold braking distance of a collision avoidance system of the vehicle is adjusted, the threshold braking distance comprising a distance from an object predicted to collide with the vehicle. By braking the vehicle at least the threshold braking distance from the object, a predicted collision between the vehicle and the object is avoided.

From a set of point data, a set of scattered rays is constructed. From the set of scattered rays, a set of ray slopes is computed. The set of ray slopes is mapped to a corresponding set of trigonometric functions. Using an optimization method, a parameter of the set of trigonometric functions is selected. Using an inverse of the set trigonometric functions, a vehicle mass corresponding to the set of point data is computed. Based on the vehicle mass, a threshold braking distance of a collision avoidance system of the vehicle is adjusted, the threshold braking distance comprising a distance from an object predicted to collide with the vehicle. By braking the vehicle at least the threshold braking distance from the object, a predicted collision between the vehicle and the object is avoided.

A vehicle control system includes a setting unit to sense a plurality of forward vehicles positioned ahead of a subject vehicle in a driving direction, to classify each of the forward vehicles as a far-away vehicle or a near-by vehicle, and to set each of the far-away vehicles as an interest vehicle, a receiving unit to receive braking information of each of the interest vehicles from the respective interest vehicles, and a control unit to control braking of the subject vehicle based on the braking information of each of the interest vehicles received by the receiving unit.

A vehicle control system includes a setting unit to sense a plurality of forward vehicles positioned ahead of a subject vehicle in a driving direction, to classify each of the forward vehicles as a far-away vehicle or a near-by vehicle, and to set each of the far-away vehicles as an interest vehicle, a receiving unit to receive braking information of each of the interest vehicles from the respective interest vehicles, and a control unit to control braking of the subject vehicle based on the braking information of each of the interest vehicles received by the receiving unit.

Systems and methods are provided for improving safety of one or more vehicle occupants. An example method for improving safety of one or more vehicle occupants includes accessing interior vehicle configuration data that is generated by, or derived from data generated by an interior data collection component, the data representing an interior space of a vehicle; determining, by processing the interior vehicle configuration data, location and orientation of one or more vehicle occupants; selecting a plurality of vehicle safety components to be active based on the location and orientation of the one or more vehicle occupants, and setting the plurality of vehicle safety components to an active state in which the plurality of vehicle safety components are deployed, when an emergency condition is detected.