A system and method assists the driver of a motor vehicle in preventing accidents
or minimizing the effects of same. In one form, a television camera or other ranging
device is mounted on a vehicle and scans the roadway ahead of the vehicle as the
vehicle travels. Continuously generated video picture signals output by the camera
are electronically processed and analyzed by a fuzzy-logic-based image analyzing
computer mounted in the controlled vehicle, which generates control signals and
applies them to control the operation of the accelerator, brake, and steering system
of the vehicle in a coordinated way to attempt to avoid or lessen the effects of
a collision. In a particular form, the decision computer may select the evasive
action taken from a number of choices, depending on whether and where the detection
device senses other vehicles and obstacles. Warning signals may also be generated.
