Adaptive Lane Change Control for Undetected Vehicle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated lane changes in vehicles may be unsafe if a fast-moving vehicle outside the sensor's field of view is forced to brake excessively to avoid a collision, as existing systems only consider objects within the field of view, potentially leading to excessive deceleration and accidents.
Innovation Solution
The adaptive control system determines a target speed and distance for a vehicle to change lanes, calculating the necessary deceleration of a potential target vehicle beyond the sensor's range and prohibiting the lane change if the deceleration exceeds a threshold, using a combination of sensor data and predefined zones to ensure safe maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated lane change is allowed when no objects are detected within sensor field of view, then lane change efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to undetected fast-moving vehicles beyond sensor range
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by calculating the maximum deceleration that an undetected target vehicle would experience before the lane change is executed. By computing the braking distance and deceleration values in advance based on sensor detection range and vehicle dynamics, the system prevents excessive deceleration events while maintaining efficient lane changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational model that estimates the presence and behavior of undetected target vehicles beyond sensor range. This virtual target vehicle model serves as a mediator to evaluate potential safety issues without requiring direct detection of actual target vehicles, enabling proactive safety assessment.
2Reliability
If sensor detection range is extended to detect all potential target vehicles, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending sensor range physically, the system performs preliminary computational analysis using existing sensor data. By calculating maximum deceleration values and braking distances based on current detection parameters, the system achieves enhanced safety assessment without adding complex sensor hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or model of a potential target vehicle beyond sensor range. This simulated target vehicle allows the system to evaluate safety scenarios and calculate deceleration requirements without requiring physical sensors to detect the actual target, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
3Reliability
If automated lane change is prohibited when deceleration exceeds threshold, then safety is improved, but lane change productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically evaluates deceleration parameters by calculating the maximum deceleration that would occur during lane change. By comparing this calculated parameter against a threshold and adjusting lane change execution accordingly, the system optimizes both safety and productivity by only prohibiting lane changes when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of performing adaptive control of an automated lane change in a vehicle include positioning a target vehicle with a target speed in a target lane at a target distance behind the vehicle. The target speed is greater than a speed of the vehicle, and the vehicle will move into the target lane based on the automated lane change. The method includes determining a deceleration needed by the target vehicle over a braking distance, which is less than the target distance, to match the speed of the vehicle, and determining whether the deceleration exceeds a threshold deceleration. The automated lane change is prohibited based on the deceleration exceeding the threshold deceleration.