Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLATOONING LIGHT FENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD
B ACK GROUND
Truck platooning is well known in the industry to create road trains, where
two or
more trucks follow each other closely or "draft" off of one another. Trucks in
such a
convoy drive very close together, significantly reducing aerodynamic drag and
increasing
fuel-efficiency. The smaller the gap between the vehicles, the better the fuel
economy.
Technology is being developed to create semi-autonomous platoons of trucks
that
are controlled by a lead vehicle through wireless communication. The trucks
would
constantly maintain a communication link that would allow them to share data
and action.
For instance, if the lead truck's collision avoidance system activates its
brakes, the
following truck or trucks would do the same. However, one reason that such
automated
platooning technology has not yet been implemented is the safety concerns
caused by
platooning trucks.
Currently trucks do not have dedicated lanes or roads. As such, platooning
trucks
must share the roadway with passenger vehicles that may be unaware of the
"rules" of
platooning. Unfortunately, with such a small gap between platooning trucks,
cut-offs and
cut-ins by passenger vehicles sharing the road are common and dangerous. When
a
passenger vehicle cuts in between two platooning trucks, the rear truck must
respond and
brake appropriately to attain a safe following distance behind the encroaching
vehicle.
Although modern technologies (such as adaptive cruise control) allow a vehicle
to sense
and respond to a developing crash situation faster than a human driver, the
technologies
are limited by the speed of the vehicles, the distance between the vehicles,
etc. The
potential of cut-ins can be reduced by more closely spacing the trucks,
however, if a cut-
in does occur, it can be an even more critical safety situation than if the
trucks were
spaced further apart. Increasing the spacing between trucks may provide more
time for
the rear platooning truck to react to a cut-in, however, the increased spacing
encourages
more cut-ins and lessens the fuel economy effects of the platoon.
Accordingly, a system and method for increasing the safety of platooning
trucks is
desired. Such a system and method would beneficially work with trucks of
various fleets
that either manually draft off one another or that are synced electronically
if/when such a
system is implemented. Moreover, such a system and method would be
beneficially easy
and cost-effective to implement on both new and used trucks, as well as easy
to use.
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SUMMARY
A platooning light fence includes an illumination assembly having one or more
light sources located on at least one of a first platooning truck and a second
platooning
truck, each of the one or more light sources configured to radiate a beam of
light that
extends substantially continuously between the first and second platooning
trucks.
A system for deterring passenger vehicles from entering a gap defined between
at
least a leading platooning truck and a trailing platooning truck includes an
illumination
assembly having one or more light sources located on at least one of the
leading
platooning truck and the trailing platooning truck, each of the one or more
light
sources configured to radiate a beam of light that extends substantially
continuously
between the leading and trailing platooning trucks, and an activation assembly
configured
to selectively activate the illumination assembly.
A method for deterring passenger vehicles from entering a gap defined between
at
least a leading platooning truck and a trailing platooning truck includes
activating an
illumination assembly to radiate at least one high intensity beam of light
substantially
continuously between the leading platooning truck and the trailing platooning
truck.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified
form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This
summary is not
intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be
used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention
will
become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed
description, when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an environmental view of a platooning light fence system formed in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the platooning light fence system of
FIGURE 1; and
FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of a platooning light fence system formed in
accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGURES 1-2 depict an exemplary embodiment of a platooning light
fence system 10 and corresponding methods configured to communicate to
passenger
vehicles that the trucks are traveling as a team intentionally running close
together and
that cut-ins or cut-offs are discouraged. The platooning light fence system
10, which may
be used with at least first and second platooning trucks 12 and 14, generally
includes an
illumination assembly 18 located on at least one of the platooning trucks 12
or 14. The
illumination assembly 18, when activated, is generally configured to create a
platooning
light fence 22 that at least partially surrounds, engulfs, and/or extends
between the
tractor 16 of the second or trailing platooning truck 14 and the trailer 20 of
the first or
leading truck 12.
An exemplary embodiment of the illumination assembly 18 with reference to
FIGURES 1 and 2 will now be described. The illumination assembly 18 may
include one
or more light sources 26 that radiate light energy as a directional
projection, or a beam of
light. Preferably, a suitable high intensity light beam source is used, such
as a laser light
assembly. Any suitable laser light assembly may be used that radiates at least
one laser
light beam 30 that is visible both in daylight and at night by reflecting off
of or being
scattered by tiny particle objects such as exhaust, dust, smoke, fog, rain,
snow, hail, mist,
smog, etc., and/or the other platooning trucks. It can be appreciated that on
a roadway
with fast-moving, heavy duty vehicles, ample tiny particles will be normally
present
between the first and second platooning trucks 12 and 14, thereby resulting in
a
substantially continuous laser light beam(s) 30 extending therebetween. The
laser light
assembly may also be configured to produce a laser light beam 30 of a suitable
color that
is indicative of warning, such as orange, red, etc., and may be of a suitable
strength such
that it is easily noticeable to passenger vehicles in most situations.
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, laser light is useful
because its
coherent nature allows a narrow beam to be produced, which allows the use of
optical
scanning to draw patterns or images on surfaces or particles without
refocusing the beam
for the differences in distance. This inherently more focused beam is also
extremely
visible, and is often used as an effect. The focused beams may also be
"bounced" to
different positions with mirrors to create laser "sculptures," barriers, etc.
In the illumination assembly 18, a plurality of light sources 26 are secured
to the
tractor 16 of the second, trailing truck 14 for projecting a plurality of
laser light beams 30
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toward the trailer 20 of the first or leading truck 12. The laser light beams
30 together
define the platooning light fence 22 between and/or around the first and
second trucks 12
and 14. The platooning light fence 22 may be any suitable non-destructive
barrier-like
structure made up of one or more laser light beams 30. For instance, in the
embodiment
shown in FIGURE 2, a plurality of laser light beams 30 extend substantially
horizontally
between the tractor 16 of the second, trailing truck 14 toward the trailer 20
of the first or
leading truck 12 to create the visual appearance of a fence. The plurality of
laser light
beams 30 are spaced vertically and horizontally to create a fenced or fenced
off area in
the gap defined between the trucks 12 and 14.
Any suitable number and arrangement of light sources 26 may be used to create
a
platooning light fence 22 that is noticeable to passenger vehicles nearby and
indicative
that the gap defined between the trucks 12 and 14 should be avoided. For
instance, the
illumination assembly 18 may include one or more light sources 26 located
above and
spaced horizontally along the windshield 34 of the tractor 16 of the trailing
truck 14 that
are directed forwardly toward the trailer 20 of the leading truck 12. In
addition or in the
alternative, the illumination assembly 18 may include one or more light
sources 26
located in or near the headlights 38 of the tractor 16 of the second, trailing
truck 14 that
are directed forwardly toward the trailer 20 of the leading truck 12. In
addition or in the
alternative, the illumination assembly 18 may include one or more light
sources 26
located around or near the grill 42 of the tractor 16 of the second, trailing
truck 14 that are
directed forwardly toward the trailer 20 of the leading truck 12.
The illumination assembly 18 may instead include one or more light sources 26
at
any other location of the tractor 16 of the second, trailing truck 14, such as
the hood, the
bumper, etc. Moreover, the light sources 26 may be spaced close together or
far apart, or
may vary in pattern and spacing depending on their location. Further, one or
more
mirrors may be used to enhance or increase the effect of the laser light beams
30. For
instance, in the embodiment depicted in FIGURE 2, a plurality of mirrors may
be
provided on the trailer 20 of the leading truck 12 that are configured to
reflect and re-
direct the laser light beams 30 back toward the tractor 16 of the trailing
truck 14. In such
a configuration, the resulting platooning light fence 22 may resemble a webbed-
like,
closed off area highly visible to passenger vehicles. In addition or in the
alternative, the
mirrors may be configured to reflect and re-direct the laser light beams 30
back along the
sides of the tractor 16 of the trailing truck 14 to at least partially engulf
the trailing
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truck 14. Regardless, the light sources 26 together create a non-destructive
platooning
light fence 22. The platooning light fence 22 communicates even to unfamiliar
passenger
vehicles to avoid the gap between the platooning vehicles. At the same time,
the
platooning light fence 22 can be penetrated by a passenger vehicle if needed
without
causing any harm to the vehicle or trucks.
In an alternative embodiment of FIGURE 3, where like parts are labeled with
like
references numerals except in the '100 series, an illumination assembly 118
having light
sources 126 are secured to the trailer 120 of the leading truck 112 for
projecting a
plurality of laser light beams 130 toward the tractor 116 of the trailing
truck 114. The
light sources 126 may be positioned around the bottom trailing edge of the
trailer 120.
More specifically, one or more light sources 126 may be positioned on the side
surface(s)
of the trailer 120 near the bottom trailing edge, and/or one or more light
sources 126 may
be positioned on the bottom surface of the trailer 120 near the trailing edge.
It should be appreciated that the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 3 may also be
used in combination, with light sources 26 secured to the tractor 16 of the
trailing
truck 14, and with light sources 126 secured to the trailer 120 of the leading
truck 12.
Moreover, any other suitable placement, combination of lights sources,
mirrors, etc., may
instead be used to create a platooning light fence 22, 122 that at least
partially surrounds
and/or extends between the trailing truck 14 and the leading truck 12.
In both the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 3, the light sources 26 and 126 may
project the laser light slightly downwardly. In this manner, the laser light
does not
spotlight oncoming traffic or reflect off rearview mirrors of leading vehicles
or trucks. In
the alternative or in addition thereto, the light sources 26 and 126 may
project the laser
light only onto the other platooning truck to avoid any interference with
other vehicles.
The platooning light fence system 10 creates a platooning light fence 22, 122
between and/or around platooning trucks without requiring any smart technology
coordination between the trucks. In this manner, the platooning light fence
system 10 can
be used with trucks of varied fleets drafting manually or having different
communication
technologies. In other words, no smart syncing between the platooning trucks
is required.
The illumination assemblies 18 and 118 may be activated by any suitable
activation assembly 50 (see FIGURE 1). For instance, the activation assembly
50 may be
a simple mechanical or electrical switch located inside the truck for
activation by the
driver when the truck is in a platoon. In an alternative embodiment, the
activation
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assembly 50 may include suitable circuitry in an on-board computer system or
the like
that automatically activates the illumination assembly 18, 118 when the
leading truck 12
is electronically synced with the trailing truck 14 in a manner now known or
later
developed. In that regard, the activation assembly 50 may be in wireless
communication
with a network 54 (through the on-board computer system or the like) such that
a remote
computer may send appropriate output signals to activate the illumination
assembly 18,
118 when it receives input signals indicating that the leading truck 12 is
electronically
synced with the trailing truck 14. Any other suitable activation assembly may
instead be
used.
The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appended
drawings
is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of a platooning light
fence and are
not intended to represent the only embodiments. The representative embodiments
described in this disclosure are provided merely as an example or illustration
and are not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the
precise forms
disclosed.
In the foregoing description, numerous specific details are set forth in order
to
provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the
exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of
the
specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps or features have
not been
described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of
the present
disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of
the present
disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.
The present disclosure uses the phrase "platooning light fence." It should be
appreciated that the term "fence" may be understood to include any type of
structure
formed from the light beams that defines a barrier extending at least between
first and
second platooning trucks, such as a barricade, blockade, etc. Accordingly, the
term
"fence" should not be seen as limiting the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
The present disclosure may also include references to directions, such as
"fore,"
"aft," "left," "right", "forward," "rearward," "front," "back," "upward,"
"downward,"
"lateral," "medial," "in," "out," "vertical," "horizontal," "central," etc.
These references,
and other similar references in the present disclosure, are only to assist in
helping
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describe and understand the particular embodiment and are not intended to
limit the
present disclosure to these directions or locations.
The present disclosure may also reference quantities and numbers. Unless
specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered
restrictive, but
exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present
disclosure.
Also in this regard, the present disclosure may use the term "plurality" to
reference a
quantity or number. In this regard, the term "plurality" is meant to be any
number that is
more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. In an embodiment,
"about,"
"approximately," etc., means plus or minus 5% of the stated value.
Thus, while illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it
will
be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from
the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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