Adaptive Cruise Control Traffic Hand Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems face delays in resuming cruise speed when changing lanes, particularly when exiting highways, due to the activation of acceleration surge functions that are not tailored to the prevailing traffic hand, leading to disconcerting speed increases in regions with left-hand traffic.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies the prevailing traffic hand by tracking object vehicles and stationary targets using radar or optical systems, inhibiting the acceleration surge function when the indicated maneuver is on the same side as the traffic hand, ensuring appropriate vehicle responses regardless of the region, and preventing undertakings by adjusting engine speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the acceleration surge function is activated when the driver indicates a maneuver, then the vehicle responds more quickly to lane changes, but the vehicle may experience disconcerting speed increases when exiting highways in left-hand traffic regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the acceleration surge function based on detected traffic hand. The control unit switches between different operational modes (first mode for right-hand traffic, second mode for left-hand traffic) depending on the prevailing traffic conditions detected by tracking vehicles and stationary targets. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to provide quick acceleration response when appropriate while preventing disconcerting speed increases when exiting highways.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the acceleration surge function based on the detected traffic hand. In right-hand traffic mode, the function allows acceleration surge on indicator activation. In left-hand traffic mode, the function is modified to prevent acceleration surge when the indicator signals a maneuver on the same side as the traffic hand (left side), thereby changing the system's behavior parameters to match local traffic conventions.
2Reliability
If the acceleration surge function is keyed to the home market traffic hand, then the vehicle operates correctly in its home region, but the function becomes incorrect when the vehicle is taken out of market
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be universal across different traffic hand regions. Instead of being keyed to a single home market, the control unit can operate in multiple modes (first mode for right-hand traffic, second mode for left-hand traffic). The system automatically detects the prevailing traffic hand through radar tracking of vehicles and stationary targets, and adapts its behavior accordingly, making it suitable for use in any region regardless of traffic hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the environment to determine the correct operational mode. The control unit continuously monitors traffic conditions by tracking vehicles and stationary targets using radar. Based on this feedback information about the prevailing traffic hand, the system automatically switches between different operational modes to ensure correct behavior in the current region, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration when crossing borders.
3Measurement precision
If the system tracks multiple object vehicles and stationary targets to identify traffic hand, then the system accurately determines prevailing traffic conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing radar tracking infrastructure already present in the vehicle for other functions (such as collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control) to also perform traffic hand detection. The control unit utilizes the same sensor data and tracking algorithms to identify the prevailing traffic hand by analyzing the positions and movements of tracked vehicles and stationary targets, rather than requiring separate dedicated detection hardware.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of identifying the hand of traffic applicable to a subject vehicle (3). The subject vehicle (3) travels in a first direction and has a first side and a second side. The method comprises tracking at least a first object vehicle (V) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3), and/or detecting the presence or absence of at least a first stationary target (T) on the first side of the subject vehicle (3). A direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V) is determined in relation to the subject vehicle (3). The hand of traffic is identified based on the direction of travel of each first object vehicle (V), and/or the presence or absence of each first stationary target (T). The invention also relates to a method of implementing Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) using the hand of traffic information. The invention also relates to a control unit (1) for determining the hand of traffic.