Adaptive Cruise Gap Control for Predicted Adjacent-Lane Cut-Ins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle traveling control systems frequently terminate following inter-vehicle distance control due to frequent cutting-in by other vehicles, leading to rapid deceleration of the host vehicle and discomfort for the driver.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle traveling control apparatus that adjusts the inter-vehicle distance based on specific conditions, such as relative speeds and distances of adjacent lane vehicles, to reduce the likelihood of rapid deceleration and discomfort by either shortening or extending the target inter-vehicle distance as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the conventional apparatus terminates the following inter-vehicle distance control when the frequency of cutting-in is high, then the control reliability is improved, but the driver experiences frequent rapid deceleration and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoiddriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of cutting-in behavior patterns and predicts future cutting-in events before they occur. By identifying trends in cutting-in frequency and vehicle behavior, the system proactively adjusts the target inter-vehicle distance to prevent rapid deceleration, thereby maintaining driver comfort while ensuring control reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The target inter-vehicle distance is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adjusts the target distance based on real-time detection of cutting-in frequency and predicted cutting-in behavior. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain reliable control by adapting to changing traffic conditions while preventing driver discomfort through smooth, anticipatory distance modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the conventional apparatus continues the following inter-vehicle distance control even when the frequency of cutting-in is high, then the driver comfort is improved, but the inter-vehicle distance becomes short frequently causing rapid deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver comfortVSAvoidinter-vehicle distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects cutting-in patterns and predicts future cutting-in events before they occur. By performing this preliminary detection and prediction, the system can proactively extend the target inter-vehicle distance in advance, preventing the inter-vehicle distance from becoming too short and avoiding rapid deceleration, thus maintaining both driver comfort and appropriate spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by extending the target inter-vehicle distance before a cutting-in event actually occurs. This preventive measure counteracts the potential harmful effect of rapid deceleration by ensuring sufficient distance is maintained, thereby protecting driver comfort while continuing the following control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If the target inter-vehicle distance is set at a relatively long distance, then the driver comfort is improved, but the frequency of cutting-in increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver comfortVSAvoidcutting-in frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of cutting-in behavior patterns and predicts future cutting-in events. This allows the system to intelligently adjust the target inter-vehicle distance based on predicted traffic conditions, maintaining longer distances when cutting-in is unlikely while reducing distance when cutting-in is predicted, thereby balancing driver comfort with reduced cutting-in frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The target inter-vehicle distance is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of cutting-in patterns and predictions. The system transitions between different distance settings depending on the detected traffic situation, maintaining long distances during stable conditions for driver comfort while reducing distances during high cutting-in frequency periods to minimize actual cutting-in events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4606670A1Vehicle traveling control apparatus, vehicle traveling control method, and non-transitory storage medium storing program thereof
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4606670A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4606670A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4606670A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle traveling control apparatus determines whether or not a specific situation has been occurring while executing a following inter-vehicle distance control, based on a vehicle speed (Vh) of the host vehicle (HV), a vehicle speed (Vaf) of an adjacent lane rear vehicle (AF), a vehicle speed (Vap) of an adjacent lane preceding vehicle (AP), and a distance (Da) from the host vehicle (HV) to the adjacent lane preceding vehicle (AP). The specific situation is a situation where the adjacent lane rear vehicle is likely to cut in between the host vehicle and an objective vehicle to be followed. The vehicle traveling control apparatus shortens a target inter-vehicle distance when a shortening condition of the target inter-vehicle distance becomes satisfied, and extends the target inter-vehicle distance when an extending condition of the target inter-vehicle distance becomes satisfied, in a case where it determines that the specific situation is occurring.