Adaptive Cruise Control Traffic Light Speed Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) do not effectively integrate recognition of traffic lights to alert drivers and control the longitudinal speed of vehicles approaching road junctions, leading to potential collisions at red or amber lights.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive cruise control system that utilizes sensory data from radar, lidar, and cameras to detect traffic lights, providing visual, acoustic, and tactile warnings, and adjusting engine torque and braking to ensure a comfortable stop at traffic lights, by estimating driver reaction time and safety distance based on driving style and road adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ADAS systems integrate traffic light recognition and automatic speed control, then safety against collisions at traffic lights is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traffic light detection functionality with the existing adaptive cruise control system. The control unit integrates multiple functions (traffic light recognition, speed control, warning generation) into a single system, allowing the ACC system to serve both traditional following-distance control and new traffic light response functions, thereby improving safety without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptive cruise control system is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional speed control based on following distance, traffic light detection response, and driver warning. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle various driving scenarios (both with and without traffic lights), improving reliability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems
2Reliability
If the system provides multiple warning types (visual, acoustic, tactile), then driver alertness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates warning types based on the specific situation and driver response. Different warning modalities (visual, acoustic, tactile) are activated as needed, allowing the system to adapt its complexity to the situation rather than always operating at maximum complexity, thereby improving driver alertness while managing system complexity
3Reliability
If the system automatically controls longitudinal speed to stop at traffic lights, then collision prevention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors driver actions and vehicle state, providing feedback through multiple warning channels when automatic speed control is activated. This feedback loop allows the driver to understand when the system is controlling speed and to intervene if desired, maintaining ease of operation while achieving collision prevention through automatic control when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive adaptive cruise control system for a host motor vehicle configured to operate in at least two different operating modes comprising a first operating mode, in which a current speed of the host vehicle is controlled to maintain a cruise speed, and a second operating mode, in which the current speed of the host vehicle is controlled to maintain a cruise distance to a leading vehicle, wherein the system is configured to:detect approaching to a traffic light and determine a light signal emitted thereby,signal to the driver the presence of the detected traffic light and the determined light signal,if the traffic light emits a red or amber light signal, estimating a driver reaction time, determining a higher threshold distance and a lower threshold distance from the traffic light, and warning the driver of the host vehicle of the need to slow it down if, after the driver reaction time has elapsed:i) the host motor vehicle has not decreased its speed by more than a calibratable threshold,ii) the current speed of the host vehicle is higher than a minimum speed,iii) either the distance of the host vehicle from the traffic light is lower than the higher threshold distance and the light signal emitted by the traffic light is red, or the distance of the host vehicle from the traffic light is between the higher and lower threshold distances and the light signal emitted by the traffic light is amber, andiv) a service brake of the host vehicle is unoperated.