Following-Start Control Apparatus Gradient-Based Delay Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptive cruise control systems face challenges in maintaining optimal inter-vehicular distance during repeated stops and starts, particularly in traffic jams, leading to potential driver discomfort due to inconsistent start timing and distance management.
Innovation Solution
A following-start control apparatus that utilizes a traveling environment information obtaining unit, a preceding vehicle information obtaining unit, and a preceding vehicle start detector to adjust the delay time for starting the own vehicle based on the estimated road surface gradient, ensuring a smooth and comfortable start by varying the delay time according to slope conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the response time for the own vehicle to start automatically is set to be short, then the inter-vehicular distance remains short and following performance is improved, but the driver may feel discomfort due to sudden or unexpected starting timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the response time variable rather than fixed. The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the response time based on detected road surface gradients, using shorter response times for downward slopes and longer response times for upward slopes. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain good following performance while adapting to driving conditions that affect driver comfort expectations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of response time based on road surface gradient conditions. By detecting the gradient and selecting different response time values from a map or through calculation, the system transforms a single-parameter control into a multi-parameter control that considers both inter-vehicular distance and road conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between following performance and driver comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the response time is set to be long, then driver comfort is improved by avoiding sudden starts, but the inter-vehicular distance becomes longer and following performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts response time based on road gradient detection. Instead of using a uniformly long response time, the apparatus shortens the response time when downward slopes are detected, maintaining close following distance while still providing comfortable starts on upward slopes where longer response times are used.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by selecting different response time values based on the detected road surface gradient. The control apparatus uses a map or calculation to determine appropriate response times, changing this critical parameter to balance driver comfort with maintaining optimal inter-vehicular distance under different driving conditions.
3Device complexity
If a fixed response time is used for automatic starting, then the control system is simple, but it cannot adapt to different road gradient conditions causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing multiple response time values in a map that corresponds to different road gradient conditions. Before actual starting control is needed, the system has already prepared the appropriate response time selections, allowing quick adaptation to detected gradient conditions without complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining reasonable system simplicity while improving driver comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the response time map or calculation function - that mediates between the simple detection of road gradient and the complex requirement of selecting appropriate starting parameters. This intermediary structure allows the system to adapt to different conditions without requiring complex control logic, balancing simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A following-start control apparatus includes a following-start controller that causes an own vehicle to so start as to follow a preceding vehicle, when start of the preceding vehicle is detected by a preceding vehicle start detector. The following-start controller includes a road surface gradient information setter that sets an estimated gradient of a road surface, on a basis of traveling environment information obtained by a traveling environment information obtaining unit, a first delay time setter that sets, on a basis of the estimated gradient, a first delay time that is set to be longer for a downward slope and set to be shorter for an upward slope as the estimated gradient becomes greater, and a delayed start controller that sets, as a delay time, a time upon so starting the own vehicle as to follow the preceding vehicle, on a basis of the first delay time.