Adaptive Warning Time for Automatic Emergency Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic emergency brake systems in vehicles often use fixed or predetermined warning times that do not adapt to the dynamic relative movement situation between the vehicle and the obstacle, potentially leading to inadequate driver intervention time in changing traffic scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The system dynamically adjusts the warning time based on the relative movement situation between the vehicle and the obstacle, shortening it if the obstacle slows down and extending it if it accelerates, ensuring the warning time is optimized for the current traffic conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed warning time is used in automatic emergency brake systems, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but the system cannot adapt to dynamic traffic situations, potentially leading to inadequate driver intervention time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to dynamic traffic situationsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The warning time is transformed from a fixed value to a dynamic variable that automatically adjusts based on real-time relative movement between the vehicle and obstacle. The system continuously monitors relative speed and distance, and modifies the warning time duration accordingly - extending it when the obstacle accelerates and shortening it when the obstacle decelerates, ensuring optimal driver intervention time for each traffic scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where sensor data about the obstacle's movement (acceleration/deceleration) is continuously fed back to the control unit. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust the warning time in real-time based on the actual traffic situation, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the warning time is extended to give drivers more intervention time, then driver safety is improved, but the response time for actual emergency situations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver safetyVSAvoidresponse time for emergency situations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The warning time duration is dynamically adjusted based on the obstacle's acceleration behavior. When the obstacle accelerates (indicating a more severe threat), the system extends the warning time to provide adequate driver intervention time. When the obstacle decelerates (indicating a less severe situation), the system shortens the warning time, thereby preserving response time for actual emergencies. This dynamic adjustment ensures both driver safety and efficient emergency response

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3274225B1Method for triggering an automatic emergency braking process with variable warning time period
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3274225B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for triggering an automatic emergency braking process in a vehicle for avoiding a tail-end collision with an obstacle, wherein a warning to the driver is triggered if at least one warning condition is satisfied, wherein the satisfaction of the warning condition specifies that owing to the instantaneous driving situation of the vehicle relative to the obstacle the automatic emergency braking process should be triggered, wherein the automatic emergency braking process is not triggered until after the warning to the driver is triggered and a warning time period (tWarning) has subsequently expired. The invention provides that the warning time period (tWarning) is set as a function of the relative movement situation between the vehicle and the obstacle and/or is adapted as a function of a relative movement situation between the vehicle and the obstacle which changes over time.