Collision Avoidance Apparatus Dynamic Speed Threshold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collision avoidance systems for vehicles may fail to execute drive support at appropriate timing when vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold, especially when a following vehicle collides with the vehicle from behind, leading to potential collisions with obstacles ahead.

Innovation Solution

A collision avoidance apparatus equipped with an obstacle detection unit, an approaching object detection unit, and an electronic control unit that calculates collision time and executes drive support when the vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a lower limit speed and the collision time is within a threshold, allowing for timely intervention even if the vehicle is pushed forward by a following vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drive support is inhibited when vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined speed, then frequent unnecessary drive support execution is suppressed, but drive support may not be executed at appropriate timing when vehicle is pushed forward by collision from behind

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive support execution timingVSAvoidcollision risk with obstacle ahead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of approaching objects from behind and pre-loads the drive support function, allowing it to execute immediately when collision occurs rather than waiting for speed threshold to be met

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts drive support execution criteria based on detected conditions - normally requiring speed threshold but allowing execution at any speed when approaching object from behind is detected, making the system adaptable to different risk scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If drive support is executed frequently at low vehicle speeds, then collision avoidance is improved, but driver discomfort increases due to unnecessary interventions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision risk with obstacle aheadVSAvoiddriver comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different drive support execution criteria to different operational contexts - strict speed threshold enforcement during normal operation versus relaxed criteria when approaching object from behind is detected, optimizing both comfort and safety for each situation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9824585B2Collision avoidance apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.11.21 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A collision avoidance apparatus includes an obstacle detection unit to detect an obstacle ahead of a vehicle; an approaching object detection unit to detect an approaching object approaching the vehicle from behind the vehicle; and an electronic control unit to calculate a collision time until the vehicle collides with the obstacle, based on the distance and relative speed of the obstacle, and starts a drive support to avoid a collision with the obstacle when the vehicle speed is a lower limit speed or greater, and the collision time is a threshold or less. When there is a likelihood for the object to collide with the vehicle from behind the vehicle, the electronic control unit lowers the lower limit speed, and/or starts drive support when the collision time is the threshold or less, even when the vehicle speed is less than the lower limit speed.