Coordinated Lane-Change Negotiation Between Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles face challenges in coordinating lane changes on multi-lane roadways when no suitable gap exists between vehicles, as existing methods lack efficient communication and coordination mechanisms to establish safe merging spaces.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for coordinated lane-change negotiations between vehicles, where a requesting vehicle communicates its intent to change lanes, and nearby vehicles use LIDAR, RADAR, wireless communication, or computer vision to identify and coordinate with each other to create a safe space by adjusting speed and position, allowing the requesting vehicle to merge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles wait for a suitable gap to appear in adjacent lane, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by transmitting lane change requests and receiving responses before actually executing the lane change maneuver. This allows the vehicle to secure a gap in advance through communication with surrounding vehicles, ensuring safety while reducing waiting time during the actual merge operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by receiving responses from surrounding vehicles about gap availability and adjusting the lane change execution accordingly. This feedback loop enables the vehicle to make informed decisions about when and how to execute lane changes, balancing safety requirements with operational efficiency.
2Productivity
If vehicles adjust speed to move into a gap ahead or behind cars in adjacent lane, then productivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to speed adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
Speed adjustments are performed as preliminary actions before the actual lane change execution. The system calculates and implements speed changes in advance to position the vehicle optimally for the merge, ensuring that safety constraints are met before the lane change begins rather than during the critical merging phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts speed based on real-time communication with surrounding vehicles and changing traffic conditions. This dynamic speed adjustment allows the vehicle to optimize its lane change maneuver while maintaining safety margins, adapting to the dynamic environment of multi-lane roadways.
3Productivity
If cooperative lane change methods are implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity worsens due to communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various aspects of lane change coordination including gap detection, response transmission, and coordination with multiple surrounding vehicles. This universal communication framework reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
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
Enables safe and efficient lane changes by establishing a coordinated communication and negotiation process between vehicles, ensuring the requesting vehicle can merge into a safe space without human intervention, enhancing the operation of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on multi-lane roadways.
Implementation Method 1
nearby vehicles use LIDAR, RADAR, wireless communication, or computer vision to identify and coordinate with each other
Implementation Method 2
nearby vehicles use LIDAR, RADAR, wireless communication, or computer vision to identify and coordinate with each other
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
One disclosed example method for coordinated lane-change negotiations between vehicles includes receiving, by a computing device of a first vehicle, a lane change request from a requesting vehicle, the requesting vehicle requesting to change to a lane of travel occupied by the first vehicle; identifying, by the computing device, a second vehicle in the lane of travel; coordinating with the second vehicle to establish a space to accommodate the requesting vehicle in the lane of travel; and transmitting a lane change response to the requesting vehicle. In some examples, methods may further include determining a distance between the first and second vehicles; determining a minimum distance to establish the space; and communicating the minimum distance and a command to change a travelling speed to the second vehicle to establish the space.