Drive-Through Lane Control Using Vehicle Position and Pedestrian Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional semi-autonomous and autonomous driving systems are limited in guiding or automatically controlling vehicles through specific lanes, such as high-pass or cash tollgate lanes, especially around highway toll gates, failing to provide efficient and safe drive-through solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize sensors to measure a vehicle's location relative to physical features, detect nearby vehicles and pedestrians, and control the vehicle's movement based on this information, combined with a map that can be received or generated for drive-through navigation, allowing for both manual and automatic driving control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional semi-autonomous driving systems are used, then basic driving assistance is provided, but the system cannot effectively guide or automatically control vehicles through specific lanes at highway toll gates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the driving control function into general driving assistance (existing Level 2 capabilities) and specific drive-through lane control (new automated function). The system divides the toll gate area into specific lanes and applies automated control only to designated high-pass or cash tollgate lanes, while maintaining manual control for other situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying drive-through lanes and preparing automated control parameters before the vehicle reaches the toll gate. The navigation system pre-processes map data to identify high-pass lanes and cash tollgate lanes, and the system prepares to automatically control the vehicle into the appropriate lane before the driver would need to manually steer.
2Ease of operation
If manual driving control is used at drive-through, then the driver has full control, but driver stress and waiting time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial automation exclusively to the drive-through lane control function, leaving other driving tasks to manual control. This partial action approach automates only the specific task of guiding the vehicle through the toll gate lane, reducing driver stress and waiting time for this particular operation without requiring full autonomous driving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle to service itself by automatically controlling the drive-through lane selection and navigation without requiring continuous driver intervention. The automated system monitors the vehicle's position, detects the toll gate area, and autonomously steers the vehicle into the appropriate lane, freeing the driver from manual lane control tasks.
3Ease of operation
If automated drive-through control is implemented, then driver stress is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functional autonomous driving system (sensors, processors, control units already present for Level 2 automation) and extends its functionality to include drive-through lane control. Rather than building a completely new system, the existing automated driving infrastructure is adapted to handle the specific task of toll gate lane navigation, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the driver and the vehicle control system specifically for drive-through operations. This intermediary automated control module acts as a mediator that activates only in toll gate areas, translating driver intent into automated lane control actions without requiring the driver to directly manipulate steering controls during the drive-through process.
4Device complexity
If navigation systems provide only information about high-pass lanes, then the system is simple, but no actual guidance or automatic control is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely informational navigation system (which only displays lane recommendations) with an integrated automated control system that physically steers the vehicle into the correct lane. The system substitutes mechanical steering action for informational guidance, using the existing automated driving hardware to execute lane changes automatically based on detected high-pass lane positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically driving a vehicle for a drive-through includes measuring a location of the vehicle with respect to physical features by a sensor mounted on the vehicle, detecting, by the sensor, nearby vehicles and pedestrians around the vehicle, and controlling driving of the vehicle based on information related to the location of the vehicle, the nearby vehicles, and the pedestrians.