Adaptive Cruise Control On-Ramp Merging Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive cruise control systems fail to properly handle merging vehicle situations from on-ramps, as they often do not detect merging vehicles as being in the same lane, leading to inadequate speed adjustments and requiring user intervention.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a combination of image sensors to detect lane markings and radar data to identify upcoming on-ramps and merging vehicles, determining their relative speed, and automatically adjusts the host vehicle's speed to allow the merging vehicle to enter the host vehicle's lane, thereby reducing driver interaction and improving ACC functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ACC systems control vehicle speed based on detected vehicles in the same lane, then collision prevention with vehicles in front is improved, but the system fails to detect and respond to merging vehicles from on-ramps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends ACC functionality from two-dimensional lane-based detection to three-dimensional spatial detection by incorporating on-ramp geometry detection and merging trajectory prediction. The system detects vehicles in adjacent on-ramp lanes and predicts their merging paths, enabling response to vehicles that are not yet in the host vehicle's lane but will merge into it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of on-ramp merging zones and identifies potential merging vehicles before they actually enter the host vehicle's lane. By detecting the merging intent and trajectory in advance, the ACC system can proactively adjust speed to facilitate safe merging, rather than reacting only after the merging vehicle is detected in the same lane.
2Ease of operation
If ACC systems maintain user-set speed without detecting merging vehicles, then speed control simplicity is maintained, but driver intervention is required to allow merging vehicles to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The ACC system automatically detects on-ramp merging zones, identifies merging vehicles, predicts their trajectories, and adjusts host vehicle speed without requiring driver intervention. The system serves itself by independently handling the complete merging response workflow, from detection through speed adjustment, eliminating the need for the driver to manually override the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts speed control parameters based on detected merging scenarios. When a merging vehicle is detected in an on-ramp zone, the ACC system modifies its speed adjustment parameters to facilitate safe merging, automatically transitioning between different control modes without driver input.
3Device complexity
If ACC systems use basic lane-based vehicle detection, then system complexity is kept low, but merging vehicle situations cannot be properly handled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the ACC system's detection capabilities by integrating on-ramp zone detection, merging vehicle identification, and trajectory prediction functions into the existing speed control framework. The system performs multiple functions using the same sensor and processing infrastructure, avoiding the need for entirely separate detection systems while improving merging situation handling.
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
The system effectively reduces driver interaction by automatically controlling the host vehicle's speed to accommodate merging vehicles, enhancing the safety and usability of adaptive cruise control systems in highway scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a position of an upcoming on-ramp merging with a lane where the host vehicle is currently traveling based on lane markings identified in an image captured by a forward-facing image sensor
Implementation Method 2
detecting a merging vehicle on the upcoming on-ramp (e.g., using radar data), and determining a speed of the merging vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for controlling the speed of a host vehicle during an on-ramp merging situation. One method includes identifying a position of an upcoming on-ramp merging with a lane where the host vehicle is currently traveling based on lane markings identified in an image captured by a forward-facing image sensor mounted on the host vehicle, detecting a merging vehicle on the upcoming on-ramp, and determining a speed of the merging vehicle. The method also includes automatically, at a control unit, adjusting a speed of the host vehicle based on the speed of the merging vehicle.