Adaptive Cruise Control for Object Loss During Cornering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adaptive cruise control systems may unnecessarily limit the speed of a motor vehicle, increasing the risk of collision when the target vehicle moves out of detection range, especially during cornering.

Innovation Solution

The method involves setting a target speed for the motor vehicle and using sensors to detect distance and relative speed to an object ahead. Automatic acceleration is prevented only during cornering if the lateral acceleration exceeds a certain limit, ensuring safety without unnecessary speed limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic acceleration is prevented during loss of detection, then safety against collision is improved, but unnecessary speed limitation occurs during normal operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against collisionVSAvoidspeed limitation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control strategies based on the local condition of lateral acceleration. When lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold (cornering condition), automatic acceleration is prevented. When lateral acceleration is within normal range, automatic acceleration is allowed. This localized application of the prevention mechanism based on the specific operational context resolves the contradiction by ensuring safety only when actually needed during cornering maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the acceleration control behavior based on real-time detection of lateral acceleration. The prevention of automatic acceleration is not a static rule but a dynamic response that activates only when cornering is detected and deactivates when normal driving conditions resume. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain both safety during cornering and productivity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If prevention of automatic acceleration is applied continuously, then collision risk is reduced, but vehicle performance and responsiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision risk reductionVSAvoidvehicle performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the control parameter (acceleration permission) based on the detected lateral acceleration parameter. When lateral acceleration exceeds the threshold, the system transitions to a state where automatic acceleration is prevented. When lateral acceleration returns to normal levels, the system transitions back to allowing automatic acceleration. This parameter-based state change ensures that vehicle performance is maintained during normal operation while collision risk is reduced during cornering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If loss of detection triggers immediate acceleration prevention, then safety is improved, but false positives during normal driving increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety responseVSAvoidfalse positives
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses lateral acceleration as a feedback parameter to verify whether loss of detection is due to cornering or normal driving conditions. The lateral acceleration sensor provides continuous feedback about the vehicle's operational state, allowing the system to distinguish between genuine cornering scenarios (where acceleration prevention is appropriate) and normal driving variations (where false prevention would occur). This feedback mechanism significantly reduces false positives while maintaining safety response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances safety by preventing unintended acceleration during cornering when the target vehicle is lost from detection, while minimizing unnecessary speed restrictions, thus reducing the risk of collision.

Implementation Method 1

a lateral acceleration (a_lat) of the motor vehicle is detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLateral acceleration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

with at least one sensor at least the distance (d) and the relative speed (v_rel) with respect to an object (object) travelling ahead of the motor vehicle is detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar detection: Radar

Data Source

PatentEP4566903A1Method for adaptively controlling the speed of a motor vehicle using an adaptive cruise control system, and adaptive cruise control system
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP4566903A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4566903A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4566903A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for adaptive control of the speed of a motor vehicle (5) with the aid of an adaptive cruise control system (1), in which method a target speed (v_set; v_set_curve) is set for the motor vehicle (5), and at least the distance (d) and the relative speed (v_rel) with respect to an object (5) travelling ahead of the motor vehicle (ego) are detected with at least one sensor (2), and the speed (v_ego) in the motor vehicle (5) to be controlled is set in accordance with the object speed (v_object) of the object (4) if the object speed (v_object) is less than the target speed (v_set; v_set_curve), and a lateral acceleration (a_lat) of the motor vehicle (5) is detected, and an automatic acceleration of the motor vehicle (5) to be controlled particularly to the target speed (v_set; v_set_curve) is prevented in the case of a detection loss of the object (4). The invention provides that the automatic acceleration of the motor vehicle (5) to be controlled is prevented in the event of the loss of detection of the object (4) only for those journeys or rides in which the detected lateral acceleration (a_lat) of the motor vehicle (5) corresponds to a non-zero lateral acceleration limit (a_lat_limit) or exceeds this lateral acceleration limit (a_lat limit).