Autonomous Vehicle Turn Control for Fuel Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous driving techniques wastefully consume fuel when attempting to make a right turn at an intersection, as they maintain or follow the preceding vehicle based solely on a green traffic signal, without considering signal changes to yellow or red, leading to unnecessary deceleration and fuel usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for controlling autonomously driven vehicles that determine whether a right turn can be made while the signal is still green, using a higher driving force to approach the intersection if possible and a lower driving force to reach a start position at the next green light if not, based on factors like traffic situation, signal remaining time, and vehicle positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the current traveling state is maintained or the preceding vehicle is followed based only on green traffic signal detection, then the vehicle can pass through the traffic signal, but fuel is wastefully consumed due to unnecessary acceleration and deceleration when the signal changes to yellow or red
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary assessment of whether a right turn can be completed before the traffic signal changes from green to yellow/red. By evaluating the distance to the intersection, vehicle speed, and signal timing in advance, the system determines the optimal action before the signal change occurs, avoiding wasteful acceleration and deceleration cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The control device dynamically adjusts the driving force based on real-time conditions including traffic signal state, distance to intersection, and whether a right turn is feasible. When a right turn is determined to be possible, higher driving force is applied to maintain momentum; when not possible, driving force is reduced to avoid unnecessary fuel consumption, creating a dynamic response to changing traffic conditions
2Reliability
If the host vehicle decelerates to avoid advancing into the intersection when the signal changes from green to yellow or red, then safety is maintained, but fuel needed to travel until signal color change is wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of right turn feasibility before the traffic signal changes color. By assessing whether the vehicle can complete a right turn within the green signal period, the control device prepares the appropriate driving force in advance, avoiding last-minute deceleration that would waste fuel while still maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes the driving force parameter based on the determined right turn feasibility and traffic signal state. When a right turn is feasible, the driving force is maintained or increased to ensure timely completion; when not feasible, the driving force is reduced to minimize fuel consumption while still allowing safe passage or controlled stopping
Data Source
AI summary
A control method and a control device are provided for autonomously controlling a host vehicle when turning across an oncoming lane at an intersection with a signal light being green. A determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle can make a right or left turn while a signal light is still green at a time of the right or left turn, either while the host vehicle in the left lane is waiting in a row of vehicles to make the right turn or while the host vehicle traveling in the right lane is waiting in a row of vehicles to make the left turn at an intersection during travel under autonomous driving. The host vehicle then creeps forward to a start position for starting at a next time the signal light is green upon determining the right or left turn cannot be made.