ACC Following Distance Control With Fine Interval Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems for adaptive cruise control (ACC) make it difficult for occupants to easily adjust the inter-vehicle interval to their desired setting due to large increments of change.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device and method that allows occupants to adjust the inter-vehicle interval in smaller increments through a proposal unit and input unit, with a recording and response unit to ensure the interval matches the occupant's preference based on driving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the set interval is adjusted using a rotary selector with rotation speed-based control, then the control mechanism is simple, but it becomes difficult for occupants to easily obtain their desired set interval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interval adjustment into two distinct levels: coarse adjustment through reference intervals (first amount of change) and fine adjustment through proposed intervals (second amount of change). This segmentation allows occupants to first select from predefined reference intervals and then make smaller incremental adjustments, making the overall process easier and more precise while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically calculating and proposing specific interval changes based on the current driving situation and previously stored correlation data. Instead of requiring occupants to manually determine the exact adjustment amount, the system pre-computes appropriate interval changes and presents them for confirmation, significantly reducing the operational burden
2Measurement precision
If the set interval changes in large increments (first amount of change), then the adjustment range is covered quickly, but it becomes difficult to achieve the precise interval desired by the occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment process is divided into two stages: first, quick selection from reference intervals provides coarse positioning, and second, incremental adjustment through proposed intervals enables fine-tuning. This two-stage segmentation allows the system to cover the full adjustment range quickly while still achieving precise final settings
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of optimal interval changes by analyzing correlation data and current driving conditions. This preliminary action provides occupants with pre-calculated proposed intervals that are likely to be the desired setting, reducing both the time needed for adjustment and the number of iterative changes required
Data Source
AI summary
When the vehicle executes adaptive cruise control in a state in which the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle is set to a set distance selected from a plurality of reference distances whose magnitude changes in units of the first change amount, setting a proposal unit capable of proposing to a vehicle occupant that the interval be changed by a second change amount smaller than the first change amount; and an input capable of executing an input operation capable of changing the set interval only by the second change amount.