Drop-Off Assist Timing Based on Rear Target Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drop-off assist devices execute unnecessary control due to incorrect timing and detection accuracy issues, particularly when detecting vehicles other than bicycles, leading to erroneous obstruction detection and early activation of drop-off assist control.
Innovation Solution
The device adjusts the time threshold for drop-off assist control based on the speed of the detected target, setting a higher threshold for slower targets and a lower threshold for faster targets, thereby delaying the start of drop-off assist control to appropriate timings and reducing unnecessary operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the time threshold is determined based on the avoidance limit time of bicycles (maximum value), then the drop-off assist control can be executed at appropriate timing for bicycles, but unnecessary drop-off assist control is executed for vehicles other than bicycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the time threshold based on the speed of the detected target. When the target speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, the time threshold is reduced from the bicycle-based maximum value to a smaller value appropriate for faster vehicles. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining high reliability for bicycles while preventing unnecessary control executions for faster vehicles.
2Reliability
If the time threshold is set to a larger value to ensure safety, then the drop-off assist control is executed earlier, but unnecessary control is triggered by detection inaccuracies for distant targets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by dynamically changing the time threshold parameter based on target speed. For fast-moving targets where detection inaccuracies are more likely, the reduced time threshold compensates for measurement precision issues by requiring more certain obstruction evidence before triggering control, thus maintaining safety while reducing false alarms.
3Productivity
If the time threshold is reduced to avoid unnecessary control, then false alarms are reduced, but the drop-off assist control may not be executed in time for slow-moving targets like bicycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time threshold a dynamic parameter that adapts to the speed characteristics of the detected target. The system automatically selects between a larger time threshold for slow targets (bicycles) and a smaller time threshold for fast targets (motor vehicles), ensuring both timeliness for vulnerable slow targets and reduction of unnecessary controls for fast targets.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device includes a target information acquisition sensor (12) configured to detect a target (Vt) present in a region rearward of a host vehicle (V), and acquire information about the target (Vt) as target information; and an electronic control unit (10) configured to, while the host vehicle (V) is stopped, calculate, based on the target information, a predicted time required for the target (Vt) to come into contact with or close proximity to the host vehicle (V), and execute drop-off assist control for assisting drop-off of an occupant of the host vehicle (V) when the predicted time is equal to or smaller than a predetermined time threshold, set the time threshold to a predetermined first time threshold when a speed of the target (Vt) is equal to or lower than a predetermined first speed, and set the time threshold to a value smaller than the first time threshold when the speed of the target (Vt) is higher than the first speed.