Anticipatory Cruise Control Speed Command Generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular cruise control systems fail to safely and comfortably adjust travel speed in anticipation of upcoming road condition changes, especially in situations with inadequate road or GPS data.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a speed-command-generator that integrates with adaptive cruise control systems to automatically adjust speeds based on map data, user-selected speeds, and curve conditions, ensuring safe and comfortable transitions by calculating optimal speeds and maintaining predefined offset speeds, even in the absence of reliable GPS or map data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cruise control systems use map data and GPS to adjust speeds in anticipation of road conditions, then safety and comfort are improved, but the system fails when GPS or map data is inadequate or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates transition speeds between different road segments using map data and curve information before the vehicle actually encounters them. By preparing speed adjustment profiles in advance based on anticipated road conditions, the system ensures smooth and safe transitions even when real-time GPS data is unavailable or inadequate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a speed-command-generator as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between GPS/map data and the adaptive cruise control system. This intermediary processes available data, calculates optimal transition speeds, and provides backup measures when primary data sources fail, ensuring continuous reliable operation.
2Reliability
If the system automatically adjusts speeds based on map data and curve conditions, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The speed-command-generator serves multiple functions: it processes map data, calculates transition speeds, generates speed profiles, and provides backup measures when GPS data is unavailable. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional module, the system achieves improved safety without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the system calculates optimal speeds for curve segments and road transitions, then comfort is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates speed profiles for upcoming curve segments and road transitions using stored map data, rather than computing them in real-time when the vehicle approaches. This preliminary calculation approach allows complex comfort-optimized speed adjustments to be made quickly without excessive processing delays.
Data Source
AI summary
An anticipatory cruise control configured to automatically adjust travel speed responsively to upcoming changes in road conditions in a safe and comfortable manner.