CACC Speed Control Using Far-Forward Vehicle Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) systems face challenges in maintaining smooth and safe vehicle speed control due to sudden changes in speed or lane changes by the target vehicle, leading to potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
The CACC system determines a driving speed based on the information of both a forward vehicle and a far-forward vehicle using V2V communications and sensors, selecting appropriate target vehicles and controlling the subject vehicle's speed to maintain a safe distance and prevent sudden accelerations or lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CACC system adjusts the speed of the subject vehicle based on the speed of the target vehicle (forward vehicle just in front), then the following function is achieved, but sudden start or sudden acceleration frequently occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of a far-forward vehicle before the forward vehicle becomes the sole target. By identifying the far-forward vehicle in advance and using its speed information for control calculations, the system prepares alternative speed reference data that prevents sudden accelerations when the forward vehicle changes lanes or behaves unexpectedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The far-forward vehicle acts as an intermediary speed reference when the forward vehicle is unavailable or unsuitable as a target. The control unit selectively switches between using the forward vehicle's speed and the far-forward vehicle's speed based on detection results, providing a smooth transition and preventing sudden changes in subject vehicle acceleration.
2Device complexity
If the CACC system uses only the forward vehicle as the target vehicle, then the control system remains simple, but the system cannot respond appropriately when the target vehicle changes lanes or behaves unexpectedly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and classification of both forward and far-forward vehicles before control decisions are made. This advance preparation allows the control unit to have multiple candidate targets ready, improving reliability without adding complex real-time decision-making processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The target vehicle selection is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit adaptively switches between forward vehicle and far-forward vehicle as the target based on real-time detection results, vehicle behavior patterns, and lane change predictions, allowing the system to respond flexibly to changing conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Device complexity
If the CACC system detects only the forward vehicle using sensors, then the sensing requirements remain minimal, but the system lacks information about vehicles further ahead that may affect driving safety
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends detection in the longitudinal dimension by identifying not just the immediate forward vehicle but also the far-forward vehicle at greater distances. This dimensional extension of detection range allows the system to gather information about vehicles further ahead without requiring additional sensor types, utilizing existing sensors more effectively across different detection zones.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle speed based on information about forward vehicles that travel in the same lane may be acquired using Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communications in a cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) system. The CACC system includes a communication unit receiving vehicle information from neighboring vehicles using V2V communications; an information collection unit collecting vehicle information of the neighboring vehicles and the subject vehicle using sensors; and a control unit determining a forward vehicle and a far-forward vehicle using the sensors, selecting first and second target vehicles for being followed by the subject vehicle based on the vehicle information of the forward vehicle and the far-forward vehicle and the vehicle information of the neighboring vehicles, and controlling the driving speed of the subject vehicle based on speed information of the first and second target vehicles.