Follow-Up Vehicle Control for Stable Traffic Congestion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle traveling control systems experience frequent switching between follow-up traveling control modes due to changes in preceding vehicle speed and inter-vehicle distance, leading to driver annoyance and inefficient control during traffic congestion.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle traveling control device that acquires traffic congestion information and maintains the vehicle's speed below a predetermined threshold and inter-vehicle distance within set limits, preventing unnecessary switching from second automatic driving to first automatic driving during congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If follow-up traveling control switches modes according to speed changes, then the control adapts to different driving conditions, but the vehicle readily influences by speed changes of preceding vehicle causing frequent mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control system adaptable through traffic congestion information. The control device dynamically adjusts its behavior based on detected traffic congestion, allowing it to maintain stability in congested conditions while remaining adaptable to different driving scenarios. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to be both dynamic (adaptable) and stable (resistant to unnecessary switching) simultaneously.
2Reliability
If the upper limit speed is stipulated by law, then the follow-up traveling control complies with regulations, but the vehicle speed region cannot be changed to suppress frequent switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing traffic congestion information as an additional control parameter. While the speed limit parameter remains fixed for regulatory compliance, the system changes its behavior based on traffic congestion status. This allows the system to maintain legal compliance while adapting its control strategy to suppress frequent mode switching in congested conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If follow-up traveling control maintains strict speed and distance limits, then the control precision is high, but the vehicle experiences frequent mode switching during traffic congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces traffic congestion information as an intermediary factor that mediates between control precision and mode stability. When traffic congestion is detected, this intermediary signal modifies the control behavior to prevent unnecessary mode switching, even when speed and distance parameters approach their limits. This resolves the contradiction by using the intermediary information to smooth out transitions and maintain stability while preserving necessary control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle traveling control device executes follow-up traveling control in which an own vehicle is made to travel following a preceding vehicle under a condition. The vehicle traveling control device includes an acquiring unit that acquires traffic congestion information relating to a traffic congestion nearby the own vehicle, and a control unit that continues the follow-up traveling control such that the speed of the own vehicle does not exceed the predetermined speed, when a presence of the traffic congestion is detected based on the traffic congestion information while the follow-up traveling control is being executed, and subsequently, when the speed of the own vehicle reaches a reference speed that is no greater than the predetermined speed and the inter-vehicle distance reaches a reference distance that is no greater than the predetermined distance, starts predetermined control to end the follow-up traveling control.