Adaptive Cruise Control Across Snowy and Muddy Road Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems are limited to exclusive roads with stable road surfaces and do not adapt to driver preferences or varying road conditions such as snowy or muddy roads, limiting their usability on general roads.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus that integrates adaptive cruise control (ACC) and traction control (TC) systems, allowing multiple traveling modes (normal, snow, lock, sport) to accommodate driver preferences and road conditions, using sensors and ECUs to manage engine torque, braking, and wheel speed for stable vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ACC is designed for exclusive roads with stable road surfaces, then control stability is improved, but adaptability to different road conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ACC system dynamically adjusts control parameters based on detected road conditions. The ECU modifies acceleration and deceleration characteristics in real-time according to whether the road is dry, snowy, or muddy, transforming a static control system into a dynamic one that adapts to varying environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes control parameters such as acceleration rate, deceleration rate, and response thresholds based on detected road conditions. For snowy or muddy roads, the ECU adjusts these parameters to prevent wheel slip and maintain stable control, while for dry roads it uses standard parameters for normal ACC operation.
2Device complexity
If ACC uses standard control parameters for all conditions, then device complexity is reduced, but performance on varied road surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ACC system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting road conditions through wheel speed sensors and other onboard sensors, then autonomously modifying its control parameters without driver intervention. This self-service capability maintains reliability across different road surfaces while avoiding the complexity of manual parameter adjustment interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors wheel speed, acceleration, and other vehicle parameters to detect road conditions, then feeds this information back to the ECU which adjusts control parameters accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to varying road conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall architecture.
3Ease of operation
If ACC is limited to normal mode for expressways, then ease of operation is improved, but versatility across different road types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects road conditions and selects appropriate control modes without requiring driver input or mode switching. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while achieving versatility, as the system handles the complexity of multiple road type adaptations autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The ACC system is designed to universally handle multiple road types (dry, snowy, muddy, etc.) through a single integrated control system that automatically adapts its behavior. This multi-functionality is achieved through sensor-based road condition detection and ECU-driven parameter adjustment, eliminating the need for separate ACC systems for different road types.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a driving assistance apparatus and a vehicle, each of which can activate: adaptive cruise control responding to preferences of the driver; and adaptive cruise control conforming to road surface conditions of general roads such as a snowy road and a muddy road in addition to an expressway with stable road surface conditions. A driving assistance apparatus (10) includes: a traveling mode determinator (11) configured to determine a traveling mode to be applied among a plurality of traveling modes in accordance with a selection made by a driver of a vehicle (100); a traction controller (12) configured to reduce slip of a driving wheel by controlling at least one of an engine (25) and a brake system (26) in accordance with a plurality of traction control conditions defined for each traveling mode, when slip amount of the driving wheel exceeds an intervention threshold; and an adaptive cruise controller (15) configured to perform adaptive cruise control that causes the vehicle (100) to follow a preceding vehicle in accordance with a plurality of adaptive cruise control conditions defined for each traveling mode. When the traveling mode is changed, the adaptive cruise controller (15) performs the adaptive cruise control by changing an adaptive cruise control condition included in the plurality of adaptive cruise control conditions so as to correspond to the traveling mode after change.