Adaptive Lateral Guidance Warning Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lateral guidance driver assistance systems often provide false warnings due to fixed warning regions that do not adapt to varying lane widths and conditions, such as in roadworks or urban environments, leading to inefficient operation and increased application effort for country variants.

Innovation Solution

The system defines adaptive warning regions based on actual lane widths using distance sensors and optical sensors, allowing for temporally and spatially variable adjustments, and incorporates navigation data to determine appropriate warning region widths and positions, avoiding fixed geometrical associations with the vehicle coordinate system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed warning regions are used in lateral guidance systems, then the system structure is simple, but false warnings increase in varying lane conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of lane change warningsVSAvoidcomplexity of warning region definition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The warning region is transformed from a fixed static definition to a dynamic adaptive definition that automatically adjusts its boundaries based on real-time detection of actual lane markings. The control unit continuously updates the warning region boundaries to match the detected lane width, enabling the system to adapt to varying lane conditions without manual intervention or complex configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the geometric parameters of the warning region (specifically its width and lateral boundaries) based on detected lane parameters. By linking the warning region dimensions to the actual lane width detected by sensors, the system automatically adjusts its operational parameters to match environmental conditions, reducing false warnings while maintaining simple system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed geometrical warning regions are used, then the system is easy to implement, but it requires extensive application effort for country variants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different lane widthsVSAvoidapplication effort for country variants

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting lane markings and adapting the warning region boundaries to match actual lane widths. The control unit uses sensor data to autonomously determine appropriate warning region parameters for different countries and road conditions, eliminating the need for manual configuration or extensive application effort for various country variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptive warning region system provides universal functionality across different countries and lane configurations by automatically adjusting to local conditions. A single system implementation can handle diverse lane widths and marking styles worldwide, as the control unit adapts the warning region parameters based on real-time detection rather than requiring country-specific configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If fixed warning regions are used, then the system operates reliably under normal conditions, but performance degrades in roadworks or urban environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidperformance in varying environmental conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The warning region boundaries are dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of actual lane markings using optical sensors. This allows the system to maintain reliable operation in varying environmental conditions such as roadworks or urban environments where lane widths may change, as the warning region automatically adapts to the detected lane boundaries rather than relying on fixed pre-defined regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces false warnings, enhances system performance, and simplifies country- and road-dependent adaptations without additional hardware, improving the accuracy of lane change warnings and reducing incorrect alerts.

Implementation Method 1

an optical sensor device for capturing the lane width of the current lane and/or for capturing the lane width at least of the nearest neighboring lane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

distance sensors for capturing obstacles to the side of and/or behind the vehicle within a defined warning region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11312376B2Device for lateral guidance assistance for a road vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A device for lateral guidance assistance for a vehicle includes a programmable electronic control unit and a plurality of distance sensors configured to capture obstacles to a side of and/or behind the vehicle within one or more defined warning regions. The device also includes an optical sensor device configured to capture a lane width of a current lane and/or a lane width of a neighboring lane. The programmable electronic control unit is configured such that at least one of the defined warning regions is defined in a temporally and/or spatially variable manner based on the lane width of the current lane and/or the neighboring lane.