Collision Avoidance Steering Using Turn Indicator Intent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collision avoidance support systems may cause unnecessary steering maneuvers or increased risk of collision when a frontward vehicle's turn indicators indicate a different direction than the planned collision avoidance path, leading to driver discomfort and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A collision avoidance support apparatus that uses a camera sensor and control unit to determine the intended direction of a frontward vehicle based on its turn indicators, adjusting the collision avoidance steering control start conditions to prevent excessive lateral movement and potential collisions by delaying the steering control when the indicated direction matches the planned avoidance direction, and initiating it earlier when the directions differ.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If collision avoidance steering control is started early, then the host vehicle can avoid collision with the frontward vehicle, but the frontward vehicle may move away in the indicated direction causing excessive lateral movement and driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines the indicated direction of the frontward vehicle using turn indicator information before initiating collision avoidance steering control. This preliminary assessment allows the system to predict the frontward vehicle's future movement and adjust the timing and magnitude of steering intervention accordingly, preventing both collision and excessive lateral movement that would cause driver discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The collision avoidance steering control is dynamically adjusted based on the relationship between the indicated direction and the planned collision avoidance direction. When directions differ, the control unit modifies the steering magnitude or timing to account for the frontward vehicle's expected lateral movement, making the system adaptive rather than fixed
2Ease of operation
If collision avoidance steering control is delayed, then driver discomfort is reduced, but the host vehicle may collide with the frontward vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary analysis of turn indicator information to determine the frontward vehicle's intended direction before deciding on the collision avoidance strategy. This advance knowledge allows the system to calculate the optimal timing for initiating steering control, ensuring early enough intervention to prevent collision while avoiding premature action that would cause driver discomfort
3Reliability
If the host vehicle steers along the collision avoidance path, then collision with the frontward vehicle is avoided, but the frontward vehicle may come excessively close or collide with the host vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines the indicated direction of the frontward vehicle before the host vehicle executes collision avoidance steering. This preliminary knowledge allows the system to predict whether the frontward vehicle will move toward or away from the planned collision avoidance path, enabling dynamic adjustment of steering magnitude or timing to maintain safe separation and prevent the frontward vehicle from coming excessively close or colliding with the host vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
When a collision avoidance steering control start condition becomes satisfied, a driving support ECU (20) starts a steering control to avoid a collision with a frontward vehicle (OV1). The ECU (20) prohibits the steering control when an indicated direction by turn indicators of the frontward vehicle (OV1) is the same as a planned direction of the steering control. The ECU (20) sets the start condition to a first start condition, when the turn indicators of the frontward vehicle (OV1) are not indicating a turning direction. The ECU (20) sets the start condition to a second start condition, when the indicated direction is different from the planned direction. The first and second start conditions have been set such that an inter-vehicular distance between the host vehicle (SV) and the frontward vehicle (OV1) of when the second start condition can be satisfied is shorter than one of when the first start condition can be satisfied.