Brake Light-Aware Vehicle Spacing Control for Smooth Following
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle technologies face challenges in performing smooth operations when starting to move or accelerate, particularly in considering the surrounding environment, due to restrictive collision avoidance systems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system equipped with a wave transmission/reception device, image capture devices, a ranging device, and a vehicle control device that determines inter-vehicle distances based on brake light status to adjust braking requests, allowing for smoother starting and acceleration while maintaining safe distances from preceding vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed inter-vehicle distance threshold is used for braking control, then collision avoidance is ensured, but smooth operation when starting or accelerating is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the inter-vehicle distance threshold adjustable based on the brake light state of the preceding vehicle. When the brake light is illuminated, a first (larger) threshold is used for safe stopping; when the brake light is off, a second (smaller) threshold is used to enable smoother acceleration. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining safety and enabling smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of inter-vehicle distance threshold based on the brake light state. By switching between two different threshold values (first threshold when brake light is on, second threshold when brake light is off), the system adapts the safety margin to the actual situation, allowing both collision avoidance and smooth operation.
2Reliability
If a large inter-vehicle distance is maintained, then collision risk is reduced, but vehicle operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the inter-vehicle distance parameter based on the brake light state of the preceding vehicle. When the brake light is off, indicating the preceding vehicle is not braking, the system reduces the required distance threshold, allowing the vehicle to operate more efficiently while still maintaining adequate safety margins.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables the vehicle to start and accelerate smoothly while maintaining safe inter-vehicle distances, reducing the risk of unintended acceleration or braking and improving operational efficiency in various surroundings.
Implementation Method 1
The wave transmission/reception device is configured to transmit a sound wave or an electromagnetic wave and receive a reflected wave being reflection of the sound wave or the electromagnetic wave from an object
Implementation Method 2
The ranging device is configured to calculate, by using the reflected wave, a distance between the vehicle and the object
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a vehicle control device is disclosed. The vehicle control device determines whether an object is a preceding vehicle and whether a brake light of the preceding vehicle is on or off. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is on, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs a braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the vehicle is equal to or larger than a first distance. When the object is a preceding vehicle and its brake light is off, the vehicle control device transmits a braking request that instructs the braking control device to stop the vehicle at a position at which the inter-vehicle distance is equal to or larger than a second distance being smaller than the first distance.