Adaptive Curve Speed Control via Lateral Acceleration Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of heavy vehicles face challenges in predicting and safely navigating curves on winding roadways, often leading to sudden braking and unsafe driving due to difficulties in determining the appropriate speed for safe and economical vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that adapt vehicle speed based on lateral acceleration, determining a maximum permitted lateral acceleration by considering vehicle and environmental factors such as traffic lane width, road friction, and visibility, to enhance safety and efficiency when taking curves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the driver maintains high speed on curvy roadways, then productivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to inability to predict curves and sudden braking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining road geometry and calculating safe speed profiles for upcoming curves before the vehicle reaches them. This allows the driver to be informed in advance about curve characteristics and appropriate speed adjustments, enabling proactive speed adaptation rather than reactive sudden braking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle position, determining current and upcoming road geometry, calculating maximum safe speeds based on lateral acceleration limits, and providing this information to the driver. This closed-loop feedback enables the driver to maintain optimal speed throughout the curve rather than braking suddenly at the curve entrance.
2Reliability
If the driver brakes suddenly before curves, then safety is improved by reducing speed, but energy consumption increases and driving becomes uneconomical
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the optimal speed profile for upcoming curves in advance, allowing the driver to gradually reduce speed before the curve rather than performing sudden braking. This preliminary speed adaptation maintains safety while minimizing energy loss associated with abrupt deceleration and subsequent acceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the maximum permitted lateral acceleration parameter based on vehicle properties and environmental conditions such as road friction, load distribution, and curve geometry. This parameter adaptation enables continuous speed adjustment optimized for both safety and energy efficiency throughout the curve-taking process.
3Speed
If the maximum permitted lateral acceleration is increased, then speed can be maintained higher, but safety deteriorates under adverse conditions such as narrow lanes or poor road friction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the maximum permitted lateral acceleration parameter based on vehicle properties (mass, load distribution, center of gravity) and environmental conditions (road friction, effective lane width, visibility). This parameter adaptation allows the speed recommendation to be optimized for current conditions, maintaining higher speeds when safe and reducing them when conditions deteriorate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by continuously updating the maximum permitted lateral acceleration value rather than using a fixed parameter. This dynamic adaptation responds to changing vehicle and environmental conditions, enabling the speed recommendation to remain optimal throughout varying driving conditions including transitions between different road surfaces, lane widths, and weather conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve. The method comprises the steps to determine (S1 ) the degree of curvature along the route of the vehicle and to adapt (S2) the speed of the vehicle based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The method comprises further the steps to determine (S3) a maximum permitted lateral acceleration; and to adapt (S4) the maximum permitted lateral acceleration depending on properties of the vehicle and/or the surroundings that influence the safe driving of the vehicle when taking a curve. The step to adapt the maximum permitted lateral acceleration includes the step to determine a factor that corresponds to the degree to which the said properties of the vehicle and/or the surroundings influence safe driving of the vehicle when taking the curve, whereby the said factor includes the influence of properties of the surroundings in the form of the effective width of the traffic lane in which the vehicle is being driven. The present invention relates also to a system for the adaptation of the driving of a vehicle on a roadway in association with taking a curve. The present invention relates also to a motor vehicle. The present invention relates also to a computer program and a computer program product.