Autonomous Cruise Control Lateral Path Creation for Emergency Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous cruise control systems face difficulties in identifying and creating a path for emergency vehicles, especially in congested conditions, as they primarily detect preceding vehicles and struggle to recognize and accommodate emergency vehicles traveling behind.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous cruise control apparatus equipped with a sensing module and controller that detects adjacent objects, calculates movement distances, and controls the vehicle to create a path for emergency vehicles by moving laterally when a following vehicle is detected behind, ensuring a sufficient rear space is formed for the emergency vehicle to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous cruise control detects only preceding vehicles, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot identify emergency vehicles traveling behind
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing module is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting preceding vehicles for standard cruise control and detecting following emergency vehicles for path creation. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to different detection scenarios without adding separate dedicated systems, balancing versatility with controlled complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from detecting only vehicles in front (one-dimensional forward detection) to also detecting vehicles behind (adding the rear dimension). This dimensional expansion enables emergency vehicle identification while maintaining the existing sensing infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and system complexity
2Productivity
If the vehicle remains stationary in congested traffic, then lane changing is difficult, but emergency vehicles cannot pass through efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
Upon detecting an emergency vehicle, the autonomous cruise control system proactively creates a passage by adjusting its position before the emergency vehicle arrives. This preliminary action of moving to the left or right lane establishes a clear path in advance, enabling efficient emergency vehicle passage without requiring complex real-time coordination in congested conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its lane position based on emergency vehicle detection. Instead of maintaining a fixed position in congested traffic, the vehicle autonomously transitions between lanes to create passage, demonstrating dynamic adaptability that balances traffic constraints with emergency response requirements
3Productivity
If the vehicle moves laterally to create a path, then emergency vehicles can pass smoothly, but the risk of collision with adjacent vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing module continuously monitors the positions of adjacent vehicles in real-time during lateral movement. This feedback mechanism allows the autonomous cruise control system to detect the presence and position of neighboring vehicles, enabling safe path creation by adjusting movement parameters based on current traffic conditions, thus maintaining reliability while enabling emergency passage
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an autonomous cruise control apparatus and a control method thereof. An embodiment provides an autonomous cruise control apparatus including: a sensing module configured to detect an object adjacent to the vehicle; a vehicle movement distance calculation unit configured to calculate a vehicle movement distance for moving the vehicle to the left or right using a preset method; and a control module configured to perform a control operation to move the vehicle by the vehicle movement distance when movement of a following vehicle behind the vehicle by a preset width or more is detected by the sensing module. Therefore, an emergency vehicle may be allowed to smoothly travel during autonomous cruise control by detecting travel of the emergency vehicle and creating a travel path for the emergency vehicle.