Automatic Engine Stop Control Using Preceding Vehicle Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic engine stop control systems fail to accurately determine the necessity of engine stop due to blocked forward visibility, traffic signal color recognition issues, and adverse weather conditions, leading to suboptimal fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A running control apparatus and system that utilize a stereo camera to detect moving objects, calculate their acceleration, and determine their intention to cross an intersection, enabling the vehicle to autonomously decide whether to stop the engine based on the object's acceleration and distance from the intersection, independent of infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If automatic engine stop control is performed using external environment recognition devices (camera and radar), then fuel efficiency is improved, but the system cannot determine traffic signal status when forward visibility is blocked or traffic signals fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a preceding vehicle as an intermediary information source. Instead of directly observing traffic signals (which may be blocked), the system infers traffic signal status from the preceding vehicle's acceleration and deceleration patterns. This intermediary approach allows the system to determine engine stop necessity even when direct observation is impossible
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct optical detection of traffic signals with indirect mechanical behavior analysis. By monitoring the preceding vehicle's acceleration and deceleration (mechanical parameters), the system substitutes for the failed or blocked optical detection method, enabling reliable inference of traffic signal status without directly observing the signals
2Extent of automation
If the system relies on traffic signal color recognition, then engine stop control can be performed, but the system fails when traffic signal color cannot be recognized due to breakdown or bad weather
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the preceding vehicle's motion behavior as an intermediary to infer traffic signal status. This approach bypasses the need for direct traffic signal observation, allowing automatic engine stop control to function reliably in environments where traffic signals are broken or obscured by bad weather
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the preceding vehicle's acceleration and deceleration patterns to predict upcoming traffic signal status. By analyzing the preceding vehicle's behavior in advance, the system can proactively determine engine stop necessity before the traffic signal becomes unrecognizable
3Measurement precision
If the system uses acceleration calculation to determine crossing intention, then accurate engine stop timing is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex visual recognition systems with simpler mechanical parameter measurement. By calculating acceleration from the preceding vehicle's motion data, the system achieves accurate crossing intention detection using basic kinematic equations, avoiding the need for complex image processing and pattern recognition algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A running control apparatus for improving fuel efficiency by enabling automatic engine stop includes: a moving object detection unit for detecting a moving object moving in a direction crossing a direction of travel of own vehicle on the basis of an acquired image acquired from an image pickup apparatus; an acceleration calculation unit for calculating acceleration of the moving object; a moving object crossing intention determination unit for determining, on the basis of the acceleration of the moving object, whether or not the moving object intends to cross an intersection ahead of the own vehicle in the direction crossing the direction of the travel of the own vehicle before the own vehicle crosses the intersection; and automatic engine stop decision unit for deciding whether the own vehicle automatically stops an engine during running on the basis of a result of determination of the moving object crossing intention determination unit.