Adaptive Branch Point Detection in Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control devices inaccurately determine branch points from driving lanes, leading to unstable vehicle behavior due to incorrect threshold settings, either falsely detecting branch points with small lane line variations or failing to detect them until the lanes are significantly apart.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device with a determination unit that uses position information and map data to set different threshold values for lane width variation, determining branch points based on these values to improve accuracy and stability, and a lane keeping control unit that adjusts vehicle behavior accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a small threshold value is used for lane width variation, then branch points can be detected earlier, but false detections increase due to small variations in lane line distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the threshold parameter dynamically based on map information availability. When map information is available, a smaller threshold (second threshold value) is used for earlier detection. When map information is not available, a larger threshold (first threshold value) is used to avoid false detections. This resolves the contradiction by adapting the threshold parameter to different operational contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces map information as an intermediary element that mediates between detection sensitivity and false alarms. The determination unit uses map information to judge whether a detected lane width variation corresponds to an actual branch point, thereby reducing false detections while maintaining early detection capability.
2Reliability
If a large threshold value is used for lane width variation, then false detections are reduced, but branch points are detected later causing vehicle instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the threshold parameter based on the availability of map information. When map information is available, a smaller threshold enables earlier detection to maintain vehicle stability. When map information is unavailable, a larger threshold prevents false detections that would cause instability. This resolves the contradiction by making the threshold adaptive to information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary judgment using map information before final branch point determination. By checking whether the detected lane width variation matches map data in advance, the system can confidently use a smaller threshold for earlier detection without risking false alarms, thus maintaining vehicle stability.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed threshold value is used for all situations, then the system is simple to operate, but accuracy varies depending on whether map information is available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the threshold dynamic rather than fixed. The determination unit automatically selects between first and second threshold values based on map information availability. This dynamic adaptation improves detection accuracy without requiring manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically selecting appropriate threshold values based on the availability of map information. The determination unit independently decides which threshold to use without external intervention, maintaining system simplicity while improving accuracy through adaptive behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where existence of a branch point in front of a vehicle is not recognized based on position information of the vehicle and map information, when a lane width variation is greater than or equal to a first threshold value larger than a second threshold value, a determination that the branch point exists is made by a determination unit of a vehicle control device. On the other hand, in a case where existence of the branch point is recognized based on the position information of the vehicle and the map information, when the lane width variation is greater than or equal to the second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, a determination that the branch point exists is made by the determination unit.