Dynamic Risk Degree Calculation Device for Vehicles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing risk degree calculation devices for vehicles are inadequate in accurately determining risk due to constant lattice spacing, which fails to account for changing road shapes and local risk variations, leading to inappropriate risk assessment and increased calculation load.

Innovation Solution

A risk degree calculation device that dynamically adjusts lattice spacing and information distribution based on the vehicle's environment and state, prioritizing critical areas such as the traveling direction, steering direction, and blind spots to enhance accuracy and reduce unnecessary calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the lattice spacing of the mesh is made smaller to increase the accuracy of risk degree calculation, then the measurement precision of risk degree is improved, but the calculation load on the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk degree calculation accuracyVSAvoidcalculation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the lattice spacing non-uniform, with smaller spacing in regions where risk degree changes locally (such as near obstacles or curve sections) and larger spacing in regions where risk degree is relatively stable. This allows high measurement precision to be achieved only where necessary, rather than uniformly across the entire calculation region, thereby reducing the overall calculation load while maintaining accuracy where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the lattice spacing adjustable based on the host vehicle's state and environment. The risk degree calculation unit dynamically changes the lattice spacing according to factors such as vehicle speed, acceleration, curve radius, and obstacle proximity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between measurement precision and calculation load in real-time, rather than using a fixed lattice structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the lattice spacing is made non-uniform to improve local risk degree calculation accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal risk degree calculation accuracyVSAvoidmesh structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the lattice spacing parameter based on the host vehicle's state and environmental conditions. The risk degree calculation unit adjusts the lattice spacing parameter dynamically according to factors such as vehicle speed, acceleration, curve radius, and obstacle proximity. This allows the system to adapt the mesh structure to match the actual risk distribution without requiring a completely complex device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lattice-shaped region is expanded to cover all possible areas, then the adaptability of risk calculation is improved, but the calculation load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk calculation coverageVSAvoidcalculation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and focusing calculation resources on only the necessary regions. Rather than calculating risk degree uniformly across a large expanded lattice-shaped region, the system identifies and extracts the specific areas where risk degree may change locally (such as regions near obstacles, curve sections, or areas affected by vehicle dynamics) and concentrates the calculation effort there, thereby reducing overall calculation load while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2541524B1Risk degree calculation device
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2541524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2541524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2541524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A risk degree estimation device 20 of a driving assistance device 10 calculates the potential risk degree at a plurality of intersection points P in a mesh M set around a host vehicle 100. The risk degree estimation device 20 changes the amount of information relating to the potential risk degree calculated for the entire region of the mesh M in which the intersection points P are set in accordance with at least one of the environment and state of the host vehicle 100. For this reason, it becomes possible to calculate the potential risk degree around the host vehicle 100 depending on the situation.