Automated Driving Obstacle Handling at Intersections

Solution Overview

Problem

Automated driving systems suspend operations easily at intersections due to low manual driving switching threshold values when obstacles are encountered, compromising convenience.

Innovation Solution

An automated driving control device that includes an information grasping section to detect obstacles and performs peeking and overtaking controls, adjusting these actions based on intersection-specific information to ensure continuous automated driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the manual driving switching threshold value is set low to improve safety by switching to manual driving when obstacles are detected, then safety is improved, but automated driving convenience deteriorates due to frequent suspensions especially at intersections

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidautomated driving convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the manual driving switching threshold based on location. The threshold is set to a first value when the vehicle is approaching an intersection and a second value (higher than the first) when the vehicle is not approaching an intersection. This allows the system to maintain higher automation convenience in general areas while ensuring safety at critical locations like intersections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the switching threshold variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the threshold based on real-time detection of intersection approach conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different driving contexts, maintaining safety when needed while preserving automation convenience when safe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the switching threshold is increased to maintain automated driving continuity and improve convenience, then automated driving convenience is improved, but safety deteriorates due to reduced responsiveness to obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated driving convenienceVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the manual driving switching threshold based on location. The threshold is set to a first value when the vehicle is approaching an intersection and a second value (higher than the first) when the vehicle is not approaching an intersection. This allows the system to maintain higher automation convenience in general areas while ensuring safety at critical locations like intersections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the switching threshold variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the threshold based on real-time detection of intersection approach conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different driving contexts, maintaining safety when needed while preserving automation convenience when safe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the vehicle performs peeking control to look ahead of obstacles at intersections, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle detection capabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing peeking control before the vehicle fully approaches the obstacle at intersections. The control unit detects when the vehicle is approaching an intersection and initiates peeking control in advance, allowing the vehicle to look ahead of the obstacle and detect potential hazards before they become critical threats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250360927A1Automated driving control device, storage medium storing automated driving control program, and automated driving control method

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An automated driving control device enables traveling of a subject vehicle by an automated driving function. The automated driving control device is configured to grasp an occurrence of an obstacle that obstructs traveling of the subject vehicle, and sequentially perform peeking control of moving the subject vehicle so as to look in a situation ahead of the obstacle and overtaking control of overtaking the obstacle, in a case where the obstacle occurs in front of the subject vehicle. In a case where the obstacle occurs in an intersection area located in front of the subject vehicle, the automated driving control device changes content of at least one of the peeking control and the overtaking control according to the grasped information in relation to the intersection area.