Driving Assist Controller Visibility Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assist controllers for vehicles fail to account for changes in driver visibility, leading to unstable operations and potential erroneous warnings or control actions, especially in conditions like mist or blizzard, which can result in safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A driving assist controller that includes a visibility estimation unit, a visibility change amount calculation unit, and a control unit to actuate onboard devices based on the temporal variation of visibility, using a stereo camera system to recognize lane lines and estimate driver visibility, and adjust warning and control settings accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If warning generation timing is changed based on driver visibility, then the warning is performed in a manner closer to driver's senses, but the warning generation timing becomes unstable when visibility changes without proper compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by issuing warnings at a timing that accounts for the driver's visibility distance in advance. The warning generation timing is set earlier than the deceleration distance by a period corresponding to the visibility distance, allowing the driver sufficient time to perceive and respond to the warning before the obstacle becomes a threat.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring visibility conditions and adjusting the warning generation timing accordingly. The visibility distance is calculated based on the relationship between the driver's eyes and the display device, and this feedback loop ensures that warning timing remains stable and appropriate even when visibility conditions change.
2Device complexity
If onboard control devices are actuated without consideration for visibility changes, then the control logic remains simple, but the operations become unstable and erroneous operations may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the control device actuation timing adaptive to visibility conditions. The actuation timing is dynamically adjusted based on the calculated visibility distance, allowing the control system to respond naturally to changing visibility conditions while maintaining operational stability and preventing erroneous operations.
3Device complexity
If visibility degradation is not detected and responded to, then the system operates with fixed parameters, but the most dangerous consequences of poor visibility ensue
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting visibility degradation and issuing warnings or adjusting control parameters in advance before dangerous situations occur. The visibility distance calculation and timing adjustments are made proactively, allowing the driver to respond to degraded visibility conditions before they lead to hazardous situations.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit of an assist controller for a vehicle estimates the visibility of a driver, calculates a visibility degradation ratio as a temporal change amount of the visibility, compares the visibility degradation ratio with a warning threshold that has been set in advance according to a vehicle speed, determines whether to warn the driver with a warning device, compares the visibility degradation ratio with a control characteristic change threshold that has been set in advance according to a vehicle speed, determines changes in control characteristics of the ABS function, skid preventing control function, and brake assist control function, compares the visibility degradation ratio with a deceleration control actuation threshold that has been set in advance according to a vehicle speed, and determines whether to execute automatic braking.