JP6832018B2 - Traffic safety devices, traffic safety methods, programs, recording media, and traffic safety systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to traffic safety devices, traffic safety methods, programs, recording media, and traffic safety systems.

When stopping at a red light in front of an intersection, if you stop behind a vehicle with a long vehicle length such as a large truck or bus in front of you, the driver's view will be blocked by the vehicle in front and you will not be able to see the traffic light. There is. In this state, if the color of the traffic light changes from red to blue and the vehicle in front starts and then starts, the driver of the vehicle behind must start the vehicle without being able to see the status of the traffic light. become. In such a case, even if the color of the traffic light has already changed from blue to red, the driver of the vehicle behind may not be aware of the situation, for example, it violates traffic rules or traffic. There is a risk of causing an accident.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a display device for displaying images and characters is mounted on the rear portion, and the vehicle blocks the display device by displaying an image of the front field of view captured by a camera provided on the front portion on the display device. An information display device that provides information on the front view to the following vehicle is disclosed.
However, the display device has a problem that it is not possible to know when the color of the traffic light will change in a few seconds.

In addition to the problem of stopping due to the above traffic lights, the traffic conditions in the blind spot of the driver (or, in the case of an autonomous vehicle, the vehicle itself; hereinafter referred to as "target"), for example, congestion in front of a large truck It is desirable that the subject can recognize at least one disaster situation (for example, landslide, high wave, falling object, road collapse, road flooding, etc.) such as sudden approach of the vehicle from the rear, front, upper and side of the vehicle.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-261627

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic safety device, a traffic safety method, a program, a recording medium, and a traffic safety system capable of recognizing a traffic situation in a blind spot of the subject.

The present inventor has conducted diligent research to solve the above problems, and as a result,
Information acquisition means that are placed in the vehicle and acquire information outside the vehicle,
A traffic situational awareness means for recognizing a traffic situation to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passenger of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
The traffic situation presenting means for presenting the traffic situation recognized by the traffic situation recognition means to the target is provided, and the traffic safety device can make the target recognize the traffic situation in the blind spot of the target. The present invention has been completed based on such findings.
That is, the present invention relates to the following traffic safety device, traffic safety method, program, recording medium, and traffic safety system.

Item 1. Information acquisition means that are placed in the vehicle and acquire information outside the vehicle,
A traffic situational awareness means for recognizing a traffic situation to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passenger of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
A traffic safety device including a traffic situation presenting means for presenting a traffic situation recognized by the traffic situation recognition means to the target.
Item 2. Item 2. The traffic safety device according to Item 1, wherein the information acquisition means includes an image acquisition means for acquiring an image outside the vehicle.
Item 3. Item 2. The traffic safety device according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the information acquisition means includes radio wave receiving means for receiving radio waves outside the vehicle.
Item 4. The traffic safety device according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the traffic situation presenting means includes a display means for displaying the traffic situation recognized by the traffic situation recognition means on the target.
Item 5. The traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle.
The traffic situation recognizing means includes a traffic light part specifying means for identifying a traffic light part in the acquired information and a traffic light situation recognizing means for recognizing the light color information of the traffic light specified by the traffic light part specifying means.
The traffic safety device according to any one of Items 1 to 4, wherein the traffic condition presenting means presents the light color information of the recognized traffic light.
Item 6. The traffic condition to be transmitted further includes information related to the light color of the traffic light.
The traffic light situational awareness means recognizes the light color-related information of the traffic light specified by the traffic light partial identification means.
Item 5. The traffic safety device according to Item 5, wherein the traffic condition presenting means further presents information related to the light color of the traffic light.
Item 7. Item 6. The traffic safety device according to Item 6, wherein the light color related information is information on the time until the light color changes.
Item 8. The traffic condition to be transmitted includes the progress of the vehicle in front of the vehicle.
The traffic situation recognition means recognizes a vehicle part identifying means for identifying a vehicle portion in front of the vehicle in the acquired information and a progress status recognizing means for the vehicle specified by the vehicle part specifying means. With and
The traffic safety device according to any one of Items 1 to 7, wherein the traffic condition presenting means presents the progress of the recognized vehicle.
Item 9. The progress status recognizing means acquires the progress status of the vehicle portion specified by the vehicle portion identifying means, or determines the progress status of the vehicle portion specified by the vehicle portion identifying means. Equipped with judgment means
Item 8. The traffic safety device according to Item 8, wherein the traffic status presenting means presents the progress status of the vehicle acquired by the progress status acquisition means or the progress status of the vehicle determined by the progress determination means. ..
Item 10. The traffic conditions to be communicated include at least one disaster situation in front of, sideways and above the vehicle.
The traffic situation recognition means further includes a disaster situation part identifying means for identifying the disaster situation part in the acquired information and a disaster situation recognition means for recognizing the disaster situation specified by the disaster situation part specifying means. ,
The traffic safety device according to any one of Items 1 to 9, wherein the traffic condition presenting means presents the recognized disaster situation.
Item 11. The traffic situation recognition means further includes a priority presentation information selection means for selecting highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted.
The traffic safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the traffic condition presenting means presents only the information selected by the priority presentation information selection means.
Item 12. Information acquisition process to acquire information outside the vehicle and
A traffic condition recognition process for recognizing a traffic condition to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle in the information acquired in the information acquisition process.
A traffic safety method including a traffic situation presentation process for presenting a traffic situation recognized in the traffic situation recognition process to the target.
Item 13. Item 12. The traffic safety method according to Item 12, wherein the information acquisition step includes an image acquisition step of acquiring an image outside the vehicle.
Item 14. Item 12. The traffic safety method according to Item 12 or 13, wherein the information acquisition step includes a radio wave receiving step of receiving radio waves outside the vehicle.
Item 15. The traffic safety method according to any one of Items 12 to 14, wherein the traffic condition presenting process includes a traffic condition display process for displaying the traffic condition recognized in the traffic condition recognition process on the target.
Item 16. The traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle.
The traffic condition recognition step includes a traffic light portion specifying step for specifying a traffic light portion in the acquired information and a traffic light status recognition step for recognizing the light color information of the traffic light specified in the traffic light portion specifying step.
The traffic safety method according to any one of Items 12 to 15, wherein the traffic condition presenting step presents the light color information of the recognized traffic light.
Item 17. The traffic conditions to be communicated further include information related to the color of the traffic light.
The traffic situational awareness process recognizes the light color-related information of the traffic light specified in the traffic light partial identification process, and recognizes the information.
Item 16. The traffic safety method according to Item 16, wherein the traffic condition presenting step further presents the light color-related information of the recognized traffic light.
Item 18. The traffic condition to be transmitted includes the progress of the vehicle in front of the vehicle.
The traffic condition recognition process recognizes the vehicle portion specifying step in front of the vehicle in the acquired information and the progress status of the vehicle specified in the vehicle portion specifying process. With and
The traffic safety method according to any one of Items 12 to 17, wherein the traffic condition presenting step presents the recognized progress.
Item 19. The progress status acquisition process for acquiring the progress status of the vehicle portion specified by the vehicle portion identification step, or the progress status for determining the progress status of the vehicle portion specified in the vehicle portion identification process. Equipped with a judgment process
Item 18. The traffic safety method according to Item 18, wherein the traffic condition presenting step presents the progress status of the vehicle acquired in the progress status acquisition step or the progress status of the vehicle determined by the progress status determination step. ..
Item 20. The traffic conditions to be communicated include at least one disaster situation in front of, sideways and above the vehicle.
The traffic situation recognition process includes a disaster situation part specifying process for identifying the disaster situation part in the acquired information and a disaster situation recognition process for recognizing the disaster situation specified by the disaster situation part specifying process. ,
The traffic safety method according to any one of Items 12 to 19, wherein the traffic condition presenting step presents the recognized disaster situation.
Item 21. The traffic situation recognition process further includes a priority presentation information selection process for selecting highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted.
The traffic safety device according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the traffic condition presenting step presents only the information selected by the priority presentation information selection step.
Item 22. A program that causes a computer to execute the traffic safety method according to any one of items 12 to 21.
Item 23. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to item 22 is recorded.
Item 24. Information acquisition means that are placed in the vehicle and acquire information outside the vehicle,
A traffic situational awareness means for recognizing a traffic situation to be transmitted to a target other than the vehicle and the passenger of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
It is provided with a traffic situation presenting means for presenting the traffic situation recognized by the traffic situation recognition means to the target.
The traffic condition recognition means recognizes a traffic light portion identifying means for identifying a traffic light portion in the acquired information, and a traffic light color information and a light color related information of the traffic light specified by the traffic light portion specifying means. Equipped with recognition means
A traffic safety system in which the information acquisition means and the traffic situation presentation means are connected to the traffic situation recognition means via a communication network outside the system.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a traffic safety device, a traffic safety method, and a traffic safety system capable of recognizing a traffic situation in a blind spot of the subject.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing a state in which the traffic safety device of the first embodiment is installed in a vehicle. FIG. 2A is a flowchart of the traffic safety method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing an example of a situation in which the vehicle is stopped at a red light in front of the intersection. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the field of view of a driver (target) of a vehicle located behind a heavy-duty truck. FIG. 3B (a) is an image acquired by the camera 110. FIG. 3B (b) is an image in which the traffic light portion is specified. FIG. 3C (a) is a schematic view showing an example of the light color information displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 3C (b) is a schematic view showing another example of the light color information displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4B is a flowchart of the traffic safety method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4C is a schematic view showing an example of the traffic light situation displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 5A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5B is a schematic view showing a state in which the traffic safety device of the third embodiment is installed in the vehicle. FIG. 6A is a flowchart of the traffic safety method according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing another example of the situation where the vehicle is stopped at a red light in front of the intersection. FIG. 6C (a) is a schematic view showing an example of the light color information displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 6C (b) is a schematic view showing another example of the light color information and the light color related information displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 7A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing a state in which the traffic safety device of the fourth embodiment is installed in the vehicle. FIG. 8A is a flowchart of the traffic safety method according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8B is a schematic view showing an example of the continuous progress of the vehicle. FIG. 9A is an image acquired by the camera 110. FIG. 9B is an image in which the vehicle portion is specified. FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram showing an example of the progress status displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 10A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 10B is a schematic view showing still another example of the situation where the vehicle is stopped at a red light in front of the intersection. FIG. 10C is a schematic diagram showing another example of the continuous progress of the vehicle. FIG. 11A is a block diagram of the traffic safety device according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 11B is a flowchart of the traffic safety method according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 11C (a) is an image acquired by the camera 110. FIG. 11C (b) is an image in which the disaster situation portion is specified. FIG. 11D is a diagram showing an example of a disaster situation displayed by the monitor 130. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the traffic safety device of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the traffic safety system according to the ninth embodiment.

In the present specification, the term "information outside the vehicle" means information including traffic conditions to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle. The relative position where such a traffic condition occurs with respect to the vehicle is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include front (direction of travel of the vehicle), rear, upper, side, and lower of the vehicle. The "information" acquired by the information acquisition means of the traffic safety device is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include images (visible light), radio waves, sound waves, heat, and odors. When the information is an image, the information acquisition means is, for example, an image acquisition means (for example, a camera). When the information is a radio wave, for example, the information acquisition means is a radio wave receiving means (for example, an antenna). When the information is sound waves, for example, the information acquisition means is, for example, a sound wave receiving means (for example, a microphone). When the information is thermal, the information acquisition means is, for example, a thermal information acquisition means (eg, an infrared camera or a thermography). When the information is odor, the information acquisition means is, for example, an odor information acquisition means (for example, an odor sensor). For example, one of the information acquisition means can be used alone, or a plurality of information acquisition means can be used in combination. The combination is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a combination of an image acquisition means and a radio wave receiving means (for example, a combination of a camera and an antenna).

In the present specification, "traffic conditions to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle" include, for example, light color information and light color related information of a traffic light in front, and progress of a vehicle in front of the vehicle. Situations (eg, stopping of a vehicle in front due to traffic congestion, stopping of a vehicle in front at a highway tollgate), a sudden approach of a vehicle or the like from behind the subject, and at least one of the vehicles in front, above, and to the side. Two disaster situations (for example, landslides, high waves, falling objects, road collapses, road floods, heavy rains, earthquakes, etc.) can be mentioned.

As used herein, the term "object" means an object other than the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle, as described above. The "object" is, for example, a driver (human) of a vehicle following the vehicle. However, the relative position of the object with respect to the vehicle is not limited to the rear. In the present specification, the "object" is not limited to human beings. For example, when the following vehicle is an autonomous driving vehicle, the three elements of the automobile (running and turning) are not particularly controlled by humans. If it is an autonomous vehicle that executes (stops), this autonomous vehicle is also an "object". In addition, although not defined as an autonomous vehicle, an automobile that controls one or more of the three elements of the automobile is also included in the "object" in the present specification. In the present specification, these automobiles may be referred to as "autonomous driving vehicles, etc."

In the present specification, the term "presenting to an object" means that when the object is a human being, the traffic condition is presented to the object, for example, visually or audibly, and the object is present. In the case of an automatically driven vehicle or the like, it means that the traffic condition is presented to the target by radio waves in addition to presenting the object, for example, visually (visually) or audibly (auditoryly). ..

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In the following FIGS. 1A to 13, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the explanations of the respective embodiments can be referred to each other's explanations unless otherwise specified. Further, the configurations of the respective embodiments can be combined unless otherwise specified.

(Embodiment 1)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, and an image of the light color information of the traffic light is acquired by the image acquisition means.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, the traffic safety device 100 of the present embodiment is arranged in a vehicle, and is an image acquisition means 110 (information acquisition means) for acquiring information outside the vehicle, a traffic condition recognition means 120, and a traffic condition recognition means. The traffic condition presenting means 130 for presenting the traffic condition recognized by 120 is provided as a main component. The image acquisition means 110 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 130. In the present embodiment, the traffic situation recognition means 120 recognizes the light color information in the information acquired by the image acquisition means 110, and includes a traffic light partial identification means 121 and a traffic light situation recognition means 122.

The image acquisition means 110 is a means for acquiring an image outside the vehicle, and examples thereof include a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Sensor) camera. As used herein, the term "camera" means, for example, a receiver that receives visible light. Examples of the traffic situation recognition means 120 include a central processing unit (CPU) and the like. The traffic light portion identifying means 121 is a means for identifying the traffic light portion in the image acquired by the image acquisition means 110. The traffic light situational awareness means 122 is a means for recognizing the light color information of the traffic light specified by the traffic light partial identification means 121. In the present embodiment, the traffic light situation recognition means 122 includes a traffic light situation determination means 126 capable of determining the light color information of the traffic light specified by the traffic light partial identification means 121. The traffic condition presenting means 130 is a means for presenting the light color information of the signal determined by the signal condition determining means 126 to the target, for example, a display means for outputting (displaying) by an image, that is, a monitor (for example, a liquid crystal display). Examples include various image display devices such as a display (LCD) and an organic electroluminescence display (OELD)), a speaker that outputs by voice, a lamp that outputs by lighting pattern, a radio wave transmitter that outputs by radio wave, and the like.

FIG. 1B shows a schematic view showing a state in which the traffic safety device 100 of the present embodiment is installed in a vehicle. In FIG. 1B, the vehicle is a heavy-duty truck 10. The image acquisition means 110 is a camera that acquires an image in front of the large truck 10. For this camera, for example, an in-vehicle camera (for example, a drive recorder) can be used. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is a CPU mounted on a large truck. The traffic condition presenting means 130 is a monitor (for example, a liquid crystal display) that displays light color information of a traffic light to an object behind a large truck. As shown in FIG. 1B, the camera 110 is installed in the upper front side of the heavy-duty truck 10. The CPU 120 is mounted inside the heavy-duty truck 10. The monitor 130 is installed at the rear of the heavy-duty truck 10. Since FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram, the dimensions, ratios, and the like of the camera 110, the CPU 120, and the monitor 130 with respect to the large truck 10 may differ from the actual ones. The same applies to the following. Further, in FIG. 1B, the camera 110 is installed outside the heavy-duty truck 10, but may be installed inside the vehicle, for example.

When stopping at a red light in front of an intersection, if you stop behind a vehicle with a long vehicle length such as a large truck or bus in front of you, the driver's view will be blocked by the vehicle in front and you will not be able to see the traffic light. There is. This situation will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2B and 3A. FIG. 2B shows a schematic diagram showing an example of a situation in which the vehicle is stopped at a red light in front of the intersection. FIG. 3A shows the driver's field of view of the vehicle (following vehicle) 20 located behind the heavy-duty truck 10. In FIG. 2B, the alternate long and short dash line extending from the following vehicle 20 toward the traffic light 30 indicates the line of sight of the driver of the following vehicle 20. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3A, the heavy-duty truck 10 is stopped at the stop line 40, and the following vehicle 20 is stopped behind the heavy-duty truck 10. In this situation, the driver of the following vehicle 20 cannot see the traffic light 30 because the view is blocked by the large truck 10 (in FIG. 3A, the traffic light 30 is indicated by a broken line). That is, the traffic light 30 is in the blind spot of the driver of the following vehicle 20. In this state, when the light color of the traffic light 30 changes from red to blue, the large truck 10 in front starts, and then the driver of the following vehicle 20 starts the following vehicle 20, the driver of the following vehicle 20 Will start the following vehicle 20 in a state where the situation of the traffic light 30 cannot be visually recognized. In such a case, even if the light color of the traffic light 30 has already changed from blue to red, the driver of the following vehicle 20 may not be aware of the situation, for example, a traffic rule violation and a traffic accident. May cause. The traffic safety device and the traffic safety method of the present embodiment are intended to make the driver of the following vehicle 20 recognize the situation of the traffic light 30 in the blind spot of the driver of the following vehicle 20 and avoid such a situation.

FIG. 2A shows a flowchart of the traffic safety method in this embodiment. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, by using the traffic safety device 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

First, as shown in FIG. 3B (a), the camera 110 acquires an image 111 in front of the large truck 10 (S10). The timing of image acquisition by the camera 110 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include constant image acquisition and image acquisition at a specific timing. Image acquisition at a specific timing includes, for example, image acquisition when the heavy-duty truck 10 is stopped, image acquisition at a timing based on information from a global positioning system (GPS), for example, a car navigation system, and the like. .. The latter image acquisition is, for example, generating information on the position of an intersection and / or a traffic light from the map information of a car navigation system, and acquiring an image at a timing based on this information. In this way, it is possible to efficiently and accurately acquire an image of a traffic light at an intersection where the large truck 10 is about to enter.

Next, the traffic light portion identifying means 121 identifies the traffic light portion 112 in the acquired image 111 as shown in FIG. 3B (b) (S21). The traffic light portion 112 is specified by a conventional technique such as extracting a traffic light region in which the shape of the traffic light exists in the image 111 and specifying a light source (visible light) in the traffic light region. Further, the accuracy of this identification can be improved by using a conventional machine learning (for example, deep learning) technique. Further, the accuracy of this identification can be improved by interlocking with, for example, GPS, for example, a car navigation system. Specifically, information on the position of the traffic light 30 is generated from the map information of the car navigation system, the distance from the position where the camera 110 is installed to the position of the traffic light 30 is calculated, and the distance is present in the image. The size of the possible traffic light 30 is preliminarily specified, and the traffic light portion 112 is specified based on this size.

Next, the traffic light condition determination means 126 determines the light color information of the specified traffic light portion 112 (S22-1). In this determination, the specified traffic light portion 112 is divided into a plurality of light source regions in which the light sources exist, and the light source being lit is specified based on the difference in brightness (visible light intensity) between the plurality of light source regions. Based on this identification, the light color information of the traffic light portion 112 (in the present embodiment, red (+ right-pointing arrow)) is determined, and the like is performed by a conventional technique.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3C (a), the monitor 130 displays the light color information 131 of the specified traffic light portion 112 on the target (S30). At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 3C (b), the arrow information can be omitted and the light color information 132 can be displayed as a target.

By displaying the status of the traffic light 30 in the blind spot for the driver of the following vehicle 20 to the driver of the following vehicle 20 by the monitor 130 installed at the rear of the heavy-duty truck 10, the driver of the following vehicle 20 can display the status of the traffic light 30. Can be recognized. Further, according to the traffic safety device 100 and the traffic safety method of the present embodiment, in order to grasp the situation of the traffic light 30 by using the image acquisition means 110 installed in each vehicle, for example, separately for the traffic infrastructure. No capital investment is required (for example, installation of a radio transmitter that emits a radio wave including information on the traffic signal status at each traffic light, maintenance and update of the traffic signal transmitter, etc.).

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, and the image of the light color information of the traffic light is acquired by the image acquisition means.

FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, the traffic safety device 200 of the present embodiment includes an image acquisition means 110, a traffic situation recognition means 120, and a traffic situation presentation means 130 as main components. The image acquisition means 110 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 130. The traffic situational awareness means 120 includes a traffic light partial identification means 121 and a traffic light situational awareness means 122. In the present embodiment, the traffic light situation recognition means 122 includes the traffic light situation acquisition means 127 that acquires the traffic light situation as it is as an image, instead of the traffic light situation determination means 126 of the first embodiment. .. The installation of the traffic safety device 200 of the present embodiment in the vehicle is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 100 of the first embodiment in the vehicle.

FIG. 4B shows a flowchart of the traffic safety method in this embodiment. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, by using the traffic safety device 200 of FIG. 4A.

First, as in the first embodiment, the image 111 in front of the large truck 10 is acquired (S10, FIG. 3B (a)). Next, as in the first embodiment, the traffic light portion 112 in the acquired image 111 is specified (S21, FIG. 3B (b)).

Next, the traffic light status acquisition means 127 acquires the status of the specified traffic light portion 112 (S22-2). This acquisition means that the light color information of the specified traffic light portion 112 (for example, a situation in which red is lit) is acquired as it is as an image without determining the light color by image analysis.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the monitor 130 displays the acquired signal status 231, that is, the lamp color information of the acquired signal portion 112 on the target (S30-2). In the present embodiment, since the light color is not determined by image analysis, the light color information of the traffic light 30 can be displayed to the driver of the following vehicle 20 more easily.

(Embodiment 3)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light in front and / or the side of the vehicle, and the radio wave including the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light is transmitted. , Obtained by radio wave receiving means.

FIG. 5A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 300 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5A, the traffic safety device 300 of the present embodiment is arranged in a vehicle, and is a radio wave receiving means 310 (information acquiring means) for acquiring information outside the vehicle, a traffic situation recognition means 120, and a traffic situation presenting means. 130 is provided as a main component. The radio wave receiving means 310 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 130. In the present embodiment, the traffic situational awareness means 120 recognizes the light color information and the light color related information in the information acquired by the radio wave receiving means 310, and the traffic light partial identification means 321 and the traffic light situational awareness means 322 are used. Be prepared. As shown in FIG. 5B, the traffic safety device 300 of the present embodiment is installed in the vehicle, except that the radio wave receiving means 310 is installed at the same position instead of the image acquisition means 110. This is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 100 in the vehicle. The radio wave receiving means 310 is a means for receiving radio waves outside the vehicle, and is, for example, an antenna according to the frequency of the radio waves to be received. In FIG. 5B, the radio wave receiving means 310 is an antenna that receives radio waves including information on the traffic light status emitted from the traffic light.

FIG. 6A shows a flowchart of the traffic safety method in this embodiment. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, by using the traffic safety device 300 of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

As shown in FIG. 6B, when a radio wave 51 including information on the status of the traffic light 30 is emitted from the radio wave transmitter 50 installed in the traffic light 30, the radio wave 51 (information outside the vehicle) is first used as an antenna. Received by 310 (S10-3). The radio wave 51 includes, for example, information such as radio wave frequency and output information, radio wave encryption information, traffic light position and height information, traffic light color information, and traffic light color related information. .. Here, the light color information of the signal is information on the current light color (for example, information that it is currently blue) and information on the light color of the current arrow when an arrow is displayed, and is the light of the signal. The color-related information is information on the time until the light color changes (for example, information that 50 seconds have passed in the blue state and the light color changes to yellow in the next 10 seconds; 50 in the red state. Information that the light color changes to a green light in 10 seconds after the passage of seconds; information that 3 minutes have passed in the blue state and changes to yellow in the next 10 seconds) Information other than the light color (including the light color of the arrow). The method of presenting information on the time until the light color changes is not particularly limited, and for example, a method of expressing the number of seconds by letters, the number of colors and / or the type of color (blue to yellow, yellow to red, red). There is a method of expressing the number of seconds with (from blue). The method of expressing characters in seconds is not particularly limited as long as the numbers can be visually viewed, and a method of digitally displaying numbers and the like can be mentioned. The method of expressing the number of seconds by the number of colors is not particularly limited, and the method of expressing the number of seconds by decreasing the area of the color every number of seconds (for example, every 1 second, every 5 seconds, every 10 seconds, etc.) is used. Can be mentioned. The method of expressing the number of seconds by the type of color is not particularly limited as long as it is changed from blue to yellow, yellow to red, and red to blue. For example, the current signal color and the signal color are 10 seconds. Examples thereof include a method of blinking or indicating an arrow that changes after 5 seconds or later. The frequency of the radio wave 51 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a 700 MHz band and a 5.8 GHz band. For example, if the frequency of the radio wave 51 is set to the 5.8 GHz band, an existing in-vehicle device (for example, an ETC in-vehicle device) can be used.

Next, the traffic situation to be transmitted to the target is recognized from the received radio wave 51 (traffic situation recognition step). Specifically, the traffic signal portion specifying means 321 specifies the information of the traffic signal portion included in the received radio wave 51 (S21-3). This identification is performed by acquiring the light color information and the light color related information of the above-mentioned traffic light from the information included in the radio wave 51.

Next, the traffic light situational awareness means 322 recognizes the light color information and the light color-related information of the specified traffic light (S22-3). This recognition is based on the traffic light color information and the traffic light-related information acquired by the traffic light portion identifying means 321 and the current light color information of the traffic light 30 (for example, the current light color is blue). In addition to this, it recognizes information on the time until the light color changes (for example, the light color changes in the remaining 10 seconds).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C (a), the monitor 130 displays the light color information 331 of the specified traffic light portion (for example, the current light color is blue) to the target (S30). Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 6C (b), an indicator indicating the timing at which the light color changes can be added to display the light color-related information 332 as a target. As a result, for example, in the situation of the traffic light 30 as shown in FIG. 6C (b), the driver of the following vehicle 20 may change the light color of the traffic light 30 to red before crossing the intersection. Can be predicted in advance, and it can be determined not to enter the intersection.

In the present embodiment, the radio wave 51 including the signal status information is emitted from the radio wave transmitter 50 installed in the traffic light 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the radio wave transmitter may be set at an arbitrary location in front of the intersection, separately from the traffic signal.

(Embodiment 4)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the progress status of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, and an image of the progress status of the vehicle is acquired by the image acquisition means.

FIG. 7A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 400 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7A, the traffic safety device 400 of the present embodiment includes an image acquisition means 110, a traffic situation recognition means 120, and a traffic situation presentation means 130 as main components. The image acquisition means 110 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 130. The traffic situation recognition means 120 includes a vehicle part identification means 421 and a progress situation recognition means 422. The vehicle portion specifying means 421 is a means for identifying a vehicle portion in front of the vehicle in the image acquired by the image acquiring means 110. The progress status recognizing means 422 is a means for recognizing the progress status of the vehicle specified by the vehicle partial identification means 421. In the present embodiment, the progress status recognizing means 422 includes a progress status determining means 426 for determining the progress status of the vehicle specified by the vehicle partial identifying means 421. The traffic condition presenting means 130 is a means for presenting the determined progress status to the target. As shown in FIG. 7B, the installation of the traffic safety device 400 of the present embodiment in the vehicle is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 100 of the first embodiment in the vehicle.

In a situation where the vehicle is continuously moving, if the vehicle is located behind a vehicle with a high vehicle height such as a large truck or a bus and a long vehicle length, the driver's field of vision is blocked by the vehicle in front and further than the vehicle in front. The progress of the vehicle in front may not be visible. This situation will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 8B. FIG. 8B shows a schematic diagram showing an example of the continuous progress of the vehicle. In FIG. 8B, the alternate long and short dash line extending from the following vehicle 20 toward the preceding vehicle 60 indicates the line of sight of the driver of the following vehicle 20. As shown in FIG. 8B, the vehicle 60 is running in front of the heavy-duty truck 10, and the vehicle 20 is running behind the heavy-duty truck 10. In this situation, the driver of the following vehicle 20 cannot see the vehicle 60 because the view is blocked by the large truck 10. That is, the vehicle 60 is in the blind spot of the driver of the following vehicle 20. In this state, even if the vehicle 60 suddenly decelerates due to the traffic jam in front of the vehicle (for example, in addition to the sudden braking, the hazard lamp is turned on to notify the traffic jam), the driver of the following vehicle 20 may use it. If the large truck 10 suddenly decelerates, the brakes of the following vehicle 20 may not be in time and the following vehicle 20 may collide with the large truck 10. The purpose of the traffic safety device 400 and the traffic safety method of the present embodiment is to make the driver of the following vehicle 20 recognize the progress of the vehicle 60 in front of the blind spot of the driver of the following vehicle 20 and to avoid such a situation. It is said.

FIG. 8A shows a flowchart of the traffic safety method in this embodiment. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, by using the traffic safety device 400 of FIGS. 7A and 7B.

First, as shown in FIG. 9A, the camera 110 acquires an image 113 in front of the large truck 10 (S10). The timing of image acquisition by the camera 110 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include constant image acquisition and image acquisition at a specific timing. Image acquisition at a specific timing includes, for example, image acquisition during continuous driving at high speed, and image acquisition at a timing based on information from a Global Positioning System (GPS), for example, a car navigation system. Can be mentioned. The latter image acquisition is, for example, to acquire an image at a timing based on traffic congestion information generated by a car navigation system. In this way, it is possible to efficiently acquire an image in a situation where traffic congestion is predicted to occur.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, the vehicle portion specifying means 421 identifies the vehicle portion 114 in the acquired image 113 (S21-4). The vehicle portion 114 is specified by a conventional technique such as extracting a vehicle region in which the shape of the rear part of the vehicle exists in the image 113. Further, the accuracy of this identification can be improved by using, for example, a conventional machine learning (for example, deep learning) technique.

Next, the progress status determination means 426 determines the progress status of the specified vehicle portion 114 (S22-4). This determination is, for example, recognition of a sudden shortening of the relative distance between the vehicle portion 114 and the heavy-duty truck 10 (that is, a rapid deceleration of the vehicle portion 114), lighting of the tail lamp in the vehicle portion 114, and presence / absence of blinking of the hazard lamp. It is performed by the conventional technique such as recognition. For example, based on the above-mentioned rapid shortening of the relative distance, lighting of the tail lamp, blinking of the hazard lamp, and the like, the progress status determining means 426 determines that the progress status is "congested".

Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the monitor 130 displays the progress status 431 of the identified vehicle portion 114 on the target (S30-4). Although it is shown as "traffic jam" in FIG. 9C, the progress status may be displayed, for example, "brake" or "danger". Further, in addition to the display by the monitor 130, the hazard lamp of the heavy-duty truck 10 may be blinked (for example, without being operated by the driver of the heavy-duty truck 10).

The progress of the vehicle 60, which is in the blind spot for the driver of the following vehicle 20, is displayed to the driver of the following vehicle 20 by the monitor 430 installed at the rear of the heavy-duty truck 10. The situation (for example, the situation during traffic jam) can be recognized.

In the present embodiment, the progress status determination means 426 determines the progress status of the specified vehicle portion 114 (S22-4), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the progress status recognizing means 422 may include progress status acquisition means for acquiring the progress status of the vehicle 60 in front specified by the vehicle partial identification means 421 instead of the progress status determination means 426. Then, the progress status of the vehicle portion may not be determined by the progress status determination means 426, and instead, the progress status acquisition means may be used to acquire the progress status of the vehicle as it is as an image. In this acquisition, for example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the progress status of the specified vehicle portion 114 (for example, the situation during traffic jam) is image-analyzed (for example, analysis of a sudden shortening of the relative distance). It means that the image is acquired as it is without determining the progress status by. Based on this acquisition, the monitor 130 displays the acquired image of the progress as it is on the target. In such an embodiment, since the progress status is not determined by image analysis, the progress status of the vehicle can be more easily displayed to the driver of the following vehicle.

(Embodiment 5)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, and the light color information of the traffic light is presented to the target by radio waves.

FIG. 10A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 500 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10A, the traffic safety device 500 of the present embodiment presents the traffic situation recognized by the image acquisition means 110, the traffic situation recognition means 120, and the traffic situation recognition means 120 as a target. Is provided as a main component. The image acquisition means 110 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 530. The traffic situational awareness means 120 includes a traffic light partial identification means 121 and a traffic light situational awareness means 122. The traffic condition presenting means 530 is a radio wave transmitter that transmits radio waves including the light color information of the traffic light 30 to an object behind the heavy-duty truck 10. The radio wave 71 used by the radio wave transmitter 530 is not particularly limited, and for example, radio waves of various frequency bands (for example, 700 MHz band, 5.8 GHz band, etc.) can be used. The installation of the traffic safety device 500 of the present embodiment in the vehicle is performed except that the traffic condition presenting means 530 that transmits radio waves is installed at the rear of the heavy-duty truck 10 instead of the traffic condition presenting means 130 that displays an image. This is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 100 in the first embodiment in the vehicle.

Next, the traffic safety method in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10B. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, using the traffic safety device 500 of FIG. 10A.

In the present embodiment, the image acquisition step (S10), the traffic light portion identification step (S21), and the traffic light status determination step (S22-1) are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, the radio wave transmitter 530 transmits the radio wave 71 including the light color information of the specified traffic light portion. When the following vehicle 20 receives this radio wave, for example, the car navigation system, instrument panel (instrument panel), windshield, drive recorder, radar detector, etc. of the following vehicle 20 are subjected to FIGS. 3C (a) or (b) or The light color information as shown in FIG. 6C (a) is displayed as an image. Further, for example, this light color information is reproduced as voice.

In the present embodiment, when the light color of the traffic light is red, the radio wave 71 transmitted by the radio wave transmitter 530 requires the following vehicle 20 to stop at the stop line 40 in addition to the light color information. May be included. When the following vehicle 20 is an autonomous driving vehicle or the like, when the following vehicle 20 receives a radio wave 71 including such a request, in addition to displaying the light color information as described above, for example, it is installed in the following vehicle 20. In some cases, the following vehicle 20 can be stopped at the stop line 40 by the stop line recognition sensor and the automatic braking system (not shown).

(Embodiment 6)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the progress status of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, and this progress status is presented to the target by radio waves.

The traffic safety device in the present embodiment has the same configuration as the traffic safety device 500 in the fifth embodiment. The installation of the traffic safety device of the present embodiment on the vehicle is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 500 of the fifth embodiment on the vehicle.

Next, the traffic safety method in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10C. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is implemented as follows, for example, by using the traffic safety device of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the image acquisition step (S10), the vehicle portion identification step (S21-4), and the progress status determination step (S22-4) are the same as those in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8A.

Next, the radio wave transmitter 530 transmits a radio wave 72 including information on the progress of the identified vehicle portion, as shown in FIG. 10C. When the following vehicle 20 receives the radio wave 72, for example, the car navigation system, the instrument panel (instrument panel), the windshield, the drive recorder, the radar detector, etc. of the following vehicle 20 are shown in FIG. 9 (c). The progress is displayed as a video. Also, for example, this progress is reproduced as audio.

In the present embodiment, when the progress status is "congested", the radio wave 72 emitted by the radio wave transmitter 530 includes, in addition to this progress status, information requesting the following vehicle 20 to decelerate. You may. When the following vehicle 20 is an autonomous driving vehicle or the like, when the following vehicle 20 receives a radio wave 72 including such a request, in addition to displaying the progress status as described above, for example, it is installed in the following vehicle 20. In some cases, the following automatic braking system (not shown) can decelerate the following vehicle 20.

(Embodiment 7)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is at least one disaster situation in front of, sideways, and above the vehicle, and this disaster situation is presented to the target by an image.

FIG. 11A shows a block diagram of the traffic safety device 600 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11A, the traffic safety device 600 of the present embodiment includes an image acquisition means 110, a traffic situation recognition means 120, and a traffic situation presentation means 130 as main components. The image acquisition means 110 is electrically connected to the traffic situation recognition means 120. The traffic situation recognition means 120 is electrically connected to the traffic situation presentation means 130. In the present embodiment, the traffic situation recognition means 120 recognizes the disaster situation in the information acquired by the image acquisition means 110, and includes the disaster situation partial identification means 621 and the disaster situation recognition means 622.

The disaster situation part identifying means 621 is a means for identifying the disaster situation part in the image acquired by the image acquisition means 110. The disaster situation recognition means 622 is a means for recognizing the disaster situation specified by the disaster situation partial identification means 621. Here, the disaster situation refers to a situation affecting road traffic such as landslides, high waves, falling objects, road collapses, and road flooding. The traffic situation presenting means 130 is a means for presenting the disaster situation recognized by the disaster situation recognition means 622 to the target. The installation of the traffic safety device 600 of the present embodiment in the vehicle is the same as the installation of the traffic safety device 100 of the first embodiment in the vehicle.

FIG. 11B shows a flowchart of the traffic safety method in this embodiment. The traffic safety method of the present embodiment is carried out as follows, for example, using the traffic safety device 600 of FIG. 11A.

First, as shown in FIG. 11C, the camera 110 acquires at least one image 611 in front, above, and side of the heavy-duty truck 10 (S10-7). At this time, an image 611 in an arbitrary direction may be acquired using a panoramic camera capable of acquiring an image of 360 °, or an image 611 in an arbitrary direction may be acquired by providing a plurality of cameras 110.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11C (b), the disaster situation part identification means 621 identifies the disaster situation machine part 612 in the acquired image 611 (S21-7). The disaster situation portion 612 is specified by a conventional technique such as extracting a region in the image 611 where a disaster has occurred and identifying this region. Further, the accuracy of this identification can be improved by using a conventional machine learning (for example, deep learning) technique.

Next, the disaster situational awareness means 622 recognizes the disaster content (for example, landslide) of the specified disaster situation portion 612 (S22-7). This recognition is performed by a conventional technique such as identifying the specified disaster situation portion 612 and recognizing the disaster content by comparing it with an image of the disaster situation registered in advance in the disaster situation recognition means 622, for example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11D, the monitor 130 displays the specified disaster content (for example, “landslide”) on the target (S30-7). The disaster situation of the front, upper, side, etc. of the heavy-duty truck 10 which is a blind spot for the driver of the following vehicle 20 is displayed to the driver of the following vehicle 20 by the monitor 130 installed at the rear of the heavy-duty truck 10. The driver of the car 20 can instantly recognize the disaster situation in the event of a disaster. The presentation of the disaster situation is not limited to the monitor 130, and the disaster situation can be notified by voice or the like, for example. Further, the monitor 130 and the voice may be used together.

In the above embodiments, both the image acquisition means and the radio wave receiving means are installed at the front portion of the vehicle to acquire information on the front outside the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the place where the information acquisition means such as the image acquisition means and the radio wave receiving means is installed in the vehicle is not limited to the front part, and the direction in which the information is acquired is not limited to the front part of the vehicle. For example, assuming that the traffic condition to be transmitted to the target is a sudden approach of the vehicle from behind the target, the location where the information acquisition means is installed can be any position of the vehicle. Further, the image acquisition means may be, for example, a camera capable of acquiring an image at a wide angle, for example, a panoramic camera capable of acquiring an image of 360 °.

Further, in the above embodiments 1, 2 and 5, the traffic condition to be transmitted is only the light color information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, but for example, the traffic light 30 displaying information on the time until the light color changes. If this is the case, the traffic light condition recognition means 122 may recognize the light color-related information from the image acquired by the image acquisition means 110, and the traffic condition presentation means 130 and 530 may present the recognized light color-related information. ..

Further, in the above embodiment, the traffic conditions to be transmitted include the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic lights in front of and / or the side of the vehicle, the progress status of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, and the front and upper parts of the vehicle. And at least one of the side disaster situations, but multiple traffic conditions to be communicated may be communicated at once. In this case, the information acquisition means 110, 310 and the traffic condition presentation means 130, 530 are configured to be able to acquire and present a plurality of pieces of information.

Further, when a plurality of traffic conditions to be transmitted can be acquired, as shown in FIG. 12, the traffic condition recognition means 120 uses the priority presentation information selection means 123 to select highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted. It may be provided. At this time, in the traffic safety method, a priority presentation information selection step is provided after the traffic situation recognition step (traffic light situation recognition step, progress status recognition step, disaster situation recognition step). In the priority presentation information selection step, for example, the traffic light is a green light, but when a landslide occurs on the road ahead, the landslide information is selected as the priority presentation information. Then, the traffic condition presenting means 130 and 530 present only the priority presentation information selected by the priority presentation information selection means 123. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to unnecessarily increase the traffic condition presenting means 130 and 530.

(Embodiment 8)
The program of this embodiment is a program that can execute the traffic safety method of the above-described first to seventh embodiments and a modification thereof on a computer. The program of this embodiment may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example. The recording medium is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk (HDD), a flash memory, an optical disk (CD, DVD, BD), a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), and the like. ..

(Embodiment 9)
In the present embodiment, the traffic condition to be transmitted is the light color information of the traffic light and the image of the light color information of the traffic light is acquired by the image acquisition means.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of the traffic safety system 800 using the traffic safety device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the traffic safety system 800 of the present embodiment is arranged in a vehicle and has an image acquisition means 110 (information acquisition means) for acquiring information outside the vehicle, a traffic condition presentation means 130, a communication interface 840, and a communication interface 840. The server 850 is provided as a main component. The image acquisition means 110 and the traffic condition presentation means 130 are connected to the communication interface 840. The communication interface 840 and the server 850 are connected via the network 860. In FIG. 13, the alternate long and short dash line indicates a vehicle in which the image acquisition means 110, the traffic condition presentation means 130, and the communication interface 840 are installed. In FIG. 13, for convenience of explanation, the connection between the communication interface 840 and the line network 860 is expressed as being wired, but in the traffic safety system of the present embodiment, the vehicle and the line network are connected. As a matter of course, a wireless connection is assumed between them.

In the traffic safety system 800, a traffic light partial identification means and a traffic light condition determination means are provided on the server 850 side as traffic condition recognition means for recognizing the traffic condition to be transmitted to the target in the image acquired by the image acquisition means 110. Has been done. For example, the image of the front of the vehicle acquired by the image acquisition means 110 is transmitted to the server 850, the server 850 side identifies the traffic light portion from the images acquired by the traffic light portion identification means, and the traffic light condition determination means is used. Determine the light color information of the specified traffic light. Further, the light color information determined by the traffic light condition determining means is transmitted from the server 850 to the vehicle, and is presented to the target by the traffic condition presenting means 130.

According to the traffic safety system 800, the image acquisition means and the traffic condition presentation means are installed in the vehicle, and the server is installed in another place, so that the signal part can be specified online and the light color information of the signal can be determined. .. Therefore, for example, maintenance and software update are easy. Further, the traffic safety system of the present embodiment may be compatible with cloud computing, for example.

Further, the traffic safety system is not limited to the mode of specifying the traffic light portion and determining the light color information, and is, for example, a system corresponding to the modes of the above-described embodiments 2 to 7 and its modifications. be able to.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the structure and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a traffic safety device, a traffic safety method, and a traffic safety system capable of recognizing a traffic situation in a blind spot of a target, and the present invention can be applied to a wide range of applications.

10 Heavy truck 20 Following vehicle 30 Traffic light 40 Stop line 50 Radio wave transmitter 51 Radio wave including information on traffic light 60 Forward vehicle 71 Radio wave including light color information and light color related information 72 Radio wave 100 including progress information, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Traffic safety device 110 Image acquisition means (camera, information acquisition means)
111, 113 Image 112 Acquired by camera 110 Identified traffic light portion 114 in image 111 Identified vehicle portion 120 in image 113 Traffic situational awareness means (CPU)
121, 321 Traffic light partial identification means 122, 322 Traffic light situation recognition means 123 Priority presentation information selection means 126 Traffic light situation determination means 127 Traffic information situation acquisition means 130 Traffic information presentation means (monitor, display means)
131, 132, 331 Light color information 231 Acquired traffic light status 310 Radio wave receiving means (antenna, information acquisition means)
332 Light color related information 421 Vehicle part identification means 422 Progression awareness means 426 Progress determination means 431 Progress "in traffic jam"
530 Traffic status presentation means (radio wave transmitter)
611 Image 612 Identified disaster situation part 621 Disaster situation part Identification means 622 Disaster situation recognition means 800 Traffic safety system 840 Communication interface 850 Server 860 Communication network

Claims (7)

Information acquisition means that are placed in the vehicle and acquire information outside the vehicle,
A traffic situational awareness means for recognizing a traffic situation to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passenger of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
Priority presentation information selection means for selecting highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted,
The only information selected by the priority presentation information selecting means, a traffic safety device Ru and a traffic condition presenting means for presenting to said subject,
The information acquisition means includes an image acquisition means for acquiring an image outside the vehicle and a radio wave receiving means for receiving a radio wave outside the vehicle.
The traffic condition information to be transmitted is
(1) wherein either the image acquiring means is acquired as an image, or the acquired as radio waves by a radio wave receiving means, light color information and light color related information in front of the traffic signal of the vehicle,
(2) Vehicle progress information in front of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition means, and
(3) Includes at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition means.
The traffic situational awareness means
(I) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, the traffic light part specifying means for specifying the traffic light part in the acquired information and the traffic light. It is provided with a traffic light situation recognition means for recognizing the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light specified by the partial identification means.
(II) When the traffic situation information to be transmitted is the progress information of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, the vehicle part specifying means for specifying the vehicle part in front of the vehicle in the acquired information and the vehicle. It is equipped with a progress recognition means for recognizing the progress of the vehicle specified by the partial identification means, and
(III) When the traffic situation information to be transmitted is at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle, the disaster situation part identifying means for specifying the disaster situation part in the acquired information. And a traffic safety device including a disaster situation recognition means for recognizing a disaster situation specified by the disaster situation partial identification means. The lamp color-related information, the is obtained as radio waves by a radio wave receiving means, Ri time information der to light color changes,
Presentation means time information up to the lamp color is changed, Ru means der representing seconds in color type, traffic safety device according to claim 1. The traffic safety device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the object is an autonomous vehicle. The information acquisition process, which is placed on the vehicle and acquires information outside the vehicle,
A traffic condition recognition process for recognizing a traffic condition to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition process, and
The priority presentation information selection process for selecting highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted, and
It is a traffic safety method including a traffic condition presentation process of presenting only the information selected by the priority presentation information selection process to the target.
The information acquisition step includes an image acquisition step of acquiring an image outside the vehicle and a radio wave reception step of receiving radio waves outside the vehicle.
The traffic condition information to be transmitted is
(1) Light color information and light color related information of a traffic light in front of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition step or as a radio wave by the radio wave receiving means.
(2) Progress information of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition process, and
(3) Includes at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle acquired as an image by the image acquisition step.
The traffic situational awareness process
(I) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, the traffic light part specifying step for specifying the traffic light part in the acquired information and the traffic light It is provided with a traffic light status recognition step for recognizing the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light specified by the partial identification step.
(II) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is the progress information of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, the vehicle portion specifying step for specifying the vehicle portion in front of the vehicle in the acquired information and the vehicle. It is equipped with a progress recognition process that recognizes the progress of the vehicle specified by the partial identification process, and
(III) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle, a disaster situation part specifying step for specifying the disaster situation part in the acquired information. A traffic safety method including a disaster situation recognition process for recognizing a disaster situation specified by the disaster situation partial identification process. A program that causes a computer to execute the traffic safety method according to claim 4. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded. Information acquisition means that are placed in the vehicle and acquire information outside the vehicle,
A traffic situational awareness means for recognizing a traffic situation to be transmitted to a vehicle other than the vehicle and the passenger of the vehicle in the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
Priority presentation information selection means for selecting highly urgent information from the traffic conditions to be transmitted,
A traffic safety system including a traffic condition presenting means for presenting only information selected by the priority presentation information selecting means to the target.
The information acquisition means includes an image acquisition means for acquiring an image outside the vehicle and a radio wave receiving means for receiving a radio wave outside the vehicle.
The traffic condition information to be transmitted is
(1) Light color information and light color related information of a traffic light in front of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition means or as a radio wave by the radio wave receiving means.
(2) Vehicle progress information in front of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition means, and
(3) Includes at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle, which is acquired as an image by the image acquisition means.
The traffic situational awareness means
(I) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light in front of the vehicle, the traffic light part specifying means for specifying the traffic light part in the acquired information and the traffic light. It is provided with a traffic light situation recognition means for recognizing the light color information and the light color related information of the traffic light specified by the partial identification means.
(II) When the traffic situation information to be transmitted is the progress information of the vehicle in front of the vehicle, the vehicle part specifying means for specifying the vehicle part in front of the vehicle in the acquired information and the vehicle. It is equipped with a progress recognition means for recognizing the progress of the vehicle specified by the partial identification means, and
(III) When the traffic condition information to be transmitted is at least one disaster situation information in front, side, and above of the vehicle, the disaster situation part identifying means for specifying the disaster situation part in the acquired information. And a disaster situation recognition means for recognizing the disaster situation specified by the disaster situation partial identification means.
A traffic safety system in which the information acquisition means and the traffic condition presentation means are connected to the traffic condition recognition means and the priority presentation information selection means via a communication network outside the system.