Adaptive Overtaking Assistant for High-Speed Lane Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current driver assistance systems for vehicles, particularly when performing overtaking maneuvers, fail to detect approaching vehicles in adjacent lanes at high relative speeds in time, leading to potential collisions due to limited sensor ranges and reaction times.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous overtaking method that uses environment detection sensors to initiate lane changes only when a lead vehicle is detected, with adaptive speed adjustments and gap analysis to ensure safe cutting-in, considering relative speeds and road conditions, allowing for either cutting in front of or behind the lead vehicle based on speed differences and available gaps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard sensor ranges (60-200m) are used for detecting vehicles in adjacent lanes, then the device complexity remains manageable, but the detection time is insufficient at high relative speeds (up to 350 km/h differential), leading to collision risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of overtaking maneuverVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and classification of vehicles in the adjacent lane before initiating the overtaking maneuver. By detecting the lead vehicle first and determining its speed relative to the overtaking vehicle, the system prepares safety parameters in advance, allowing for timely reaction even at high relative speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the safety assessment based on relative speed calculations. The minimum safety distance requirement is not fixed but adapts according to the detected relative speed between the overtaking vehicle and vehicles in the adjacent lane, enabling safe operation at varying speeds up to 350 km/h differential

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the vehicle cuts in front of a lead vehicle in the adjacent lane, then the overtaking maneuver is completed faster, but the risk of collision increases if the lead vehicle is approaching at high speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveovertaking speedVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the relative speed between the overtaking vehicle and the lead vehicle in the adjacent lane. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines whether to permit cutting in front or behind the lead vehicle, dynamically adjusting the overtaking strategy to maintain safety while achieving the maneuver

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the overtaking parameter (cutting position) based on the detected relative speed. When the lead vehicle's speed is significantly lower than the overtaking vehicle, cutting in front is permitted for faster overtaking. When the lead vehicle is approaching at high relative speed, the system switches to cutting behind the lead vehicle to eliminate collision risk

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2978650B1Method and device for an overtaking assistance system
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBH

AI summary

A method for an overtaking assistant for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is equipped with environment sensing systems for detecting objects in the own and an adjacent lane on the sides and at the rear of the vehicle. The space in front of the vehicle is preferably detected by environmental sensors as well. Autonomous cutting into an adjacent lane is only initiated if a first vehicle is detected in the adjacent lane. The first vehicle is taken as a reference for a speed of vehicles in the passing lane. It is also assumed that a second vehicle that approaches the first vehicle fast in the same lane has detected the first vehicle and will adjust its speed to the speed of the first vehicle.