Dynamic Alert Zone Adjustment for Vehicle Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving support apparatuses fail to properly alert drivers when turning at locations where GPS and wireless communication are unavailable, such as shielded areas or newly constructed roads, leading to inaccurate estimation of the expected vehicle route and potential false alerts.
Innovation Solution
A driving support apparatus that uses onboard sensors to acquire object and vehicle information, estimating the expected route using a circular formula based on yaw rate and vehicle speed, and adjusts the alert zone dynamically based on the turning angle to prevent false alerts by calculating an effective route length that avoids intruding into adjacent lanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS sensor and wireless communication are used for self position estimation, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates when GPS is unavailable (shielded areas, newly constructed roads)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the estimation parameters from GPS-based absolute position to sensor-based relative position changes (odometry). By using wheel speed sensors and steering angle sensors to calculate position changes relative to the last known GPS position, the system maintains reliability in GPS-denied environments while preserving measurement precision through continuous sensor fusion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation method (odometry-based relative position estimation) that bridges the gap between GPS availability and continuous position tracking. This intermediary approach uses wheel speed and steering angle data to compute relative position changes, serving as a mediator that maintains system reliability when primary GPS positioning fails
2Ease of operation
If a fixed alert zone is set based on maximum turning radius, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as the alert zone may intrude into adjacent lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the alert zone dynamic by adjusting its size and shape based on real-time vehicle parameters (current speed, steering angle, turning radius) rather than using a fixed predetermined zone. The alert zone dynamically adapts to the actual expected route, preventing intrusion into adjacent lanes while maintaining ease of operation through automated parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by setting different alert zone parameters for different sections of the turning path. Instead of a uniform fixed zone, the alert zone is locally optimized at each position along the expected route based on actual vehicle dynamics, ensuring precise boundary definition that avoids adjacent lanes while covering all necessary alert areas
3Reliability
If the alert zone is expanded to cover all possible turning paths, then reliability is improved, but loss of information increases due to false alerts in adjacent lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by setting the alert zone precisely to match the actual expected route based on real-time vehicle parameters, rather than using an excessive fixed zone that covers all possible turning paths. This partial coverage approach maintains reliability for actual turning paths while avoiding false alerts in areas where the vehicle will not actually travel
Data Source
AI summary
A driving support apparatus estimates an expected route of an own vehicle, calculates an effective length of the expected route, and alerts a driver of the own vehicle when it is determined that there exists an object which crosses a part within the effective length within a predetermined time. A formula of a circle with a radius of an estimated turning radius is used for an expected route formula expressing the expected route. Once it is determined that the own vehicle is trying to start turning left or right, the driving support apparatus calculates a turning angle of the own vehicle, and calculates the effective length of the expected route using a value based on a product of the estimated turning radius and a remaining turning angle which is an angle obtained by subtracting the turning angle from a predetermined angle.