LADAR enabled impact mitigation system

摘要

A collision mitigation system is proposed which makes use of forward mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to identify obstacles and to predict unavoidable collisions therewith, and a duplex radio link in communication with secondary vehicles, and a number of external airbags deployable under the control of an airbag control unit, to reduce the forces of impact on the host vehicle, secondary vehicles, and bipeds and quadrupeds wandering into the roadway. A suspension modification system makes use of headlight mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to characterize the road surface, identify road hazards, and make adaptations to a number of active suspension components, each with the ability to absorb shock, elevate or lower the vehicle, and adjust the spring rate of the individual wheel suspensions.

主权项

1. An impact mitigation system comprising:
a vehicle with a ladar sensor mounted thereto, an airbag module with an airbag activation charge within, said airbag module mounted on a periphery of said vehicle, an airbag control unit operably connected to activate said airbag activation charge,
and said ladar sensor comprising;
a receiving lens assembly,a laser transmitter with a modulated laser light output and a diffusing optic for illuminating a scene in a field of view of said ladar sensor,a two dimensional array of light sensitive detectors positioned at a focal plane of said receiving lens assembly, each of said light sensitive detectors with an output producing an electrical response signal from a reflected portion of said modulated laser light output,a readout integrated circuit with a plurality of unit cell electrical circuits, each of said unit cell electrical circuits having an input connected to one of said light sensitive detector outputs, each unit cell electrical circuit having an electrical response signal demodulator and a range measuring circuit connected to an output of said electrical response signal demodulator, said range measuring circuit further connected to a reference signal providing a zero range reference for the said range measuring circuit,a detector bias circuit connected to at least one voltage distribution grid of said array of light sensitive detectors,a digital processor connected to receive outputs from the range measuring circuits and provide an input for the airbag control unit,and a temperature stabilized frequency reference connected through the digital processor to provide clocking signals.