Driving Support Apparatus Virtual Lane Warning Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane departure warning systems issue warnings based on virtual lane dividing lines in sections without actual lane markings, leading to unreasonable feelings for drivers, as these warnings can be triggered in areas where no lane dividing lines are drawn, such as diverging sections, junctions, or carpool lanes, causing unnecessary alerts.
Innovation Solution
A driving support apparatus and method that includes an image processing section to detect lane dividing lines, set virtual lane dividing lines in sections without actual markings, and a warning section to issue alerts only when the vehicle deviates from these virtual lines, with conditions to cancel support and warnings based on vehicle speed, operations like steering or braking, and specific environmental contexts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a virtual lane dividing line is set in a section without actual lane markings to enable continuous driving support, then the driving support can be maintained in areas with missing markings, but false warnings are issued in sections where no lane dividing line is drawn, causing unreasonable feelings for drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different warning behaviors to different sections of the road. In sections with actual lane markings, warnings are issued when the vehicle deviates from the lane. In sections without lane markings (such as diverging sections, junctions, or carpool lanes), the system suppresses warnings even if the vehicle deviates from the virtual lane dividing line. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining driving support continuity where needed while avoiding false warnings in areas where lane deviation is normal or expected.
2Ease of operation
If lane deviation warning is issued based on virtual lane dividing line to assist driver, then the warning function is enhanced, but the warning may be issued also in a section in which no lane dividing line is drawn in practice, causing driver confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the detection result of actual lane markings as an intermediary condition to control the warning function. The warning section checks whether the current section has actual lane dividing lines drawn, and only issues warnings when both the virtual lane dividing line is set and actual lane markings are present. This intermediary condition preserves the warning function's effectiveness while preventing confusion by considering the road context information.
3Productivity
If the system continuously monitors vehicle position relative to virtual lane dividing line, then driving support is maintained, but unnecessary warnings are generated in areas without lane markings
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the warning behavior based on the road section characteristics. The warning function is activated or deactivated according to whether the current section has actual lane markings or not. This dynamic adjustment maintains monitoring efficiency by continuously tracking vehicle position while avoiding the generation of unnecessary warnings in areas without lane markings, such as diverging sections or junctions.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving support ECU 1 detects for a lane dividing line on a road surface which is travelled upon, by using an image which is taken by a camera 2 and which represents the road surface which is traveled upon and is in front of a vehicle, sets a virtual lane dividing line in a section in which no lane dividing line is drawn, performs a driving support by controlling the vehicle based on the lane dividing line and the virtual lane dividing line, and issues a warning when the vehicle deviates from the virtual lane dividing line. Further, the driving support ECU 1 detects a state of the vehicle, calculates information indicating the state as vehicle information, cancels the driving support when the vehicle information satisfies a predetermined cancel condition, and inhibits the warning when the driving support is canceled.