Heavy-Duty Vehicle Hazard Light Control for Speed and Angle Warnings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of vehicles, particularly heavy-duty vehicles, face challenges in determining when to activate and deactivate hazard lights, which can lead to increased accident risk due to the non-standardized location of hazard light switches and the need for timely warnings.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that automatically controls hazard lights based on vehicle speed and traveling angle, activating them when outside predetermined speed and angle ranges, and deactivating them when within these ranges, using sensors and navigation data to ensure accurate and timely warnings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hazard light switch location is not standardized, then driver flexibility is improved, but driver response time worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver flexibilityVSAvoiddriver response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects hazardous conditions and activates hazard lights without driver intervention. The processor monitors vehicle sensors and autonomously controls the hazard light switch, eliminating the time delay caused by manual switch location search and activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If hazard lights are manually controlled, then driver control precision is improved, but system complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver control precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors vehicle sensors (speed, acceleration, steering angle) and provides feedback to the processor, which automatically adjusts hazard light activation. This closed-loop feedback system replaces manual driver judgment with automated sensor-based detection, maintaining precision while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If hazard lights are activated frequently, then road user warning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates hazard lights partially - only when specific hazardous conditions are detected through sensor analysis. Rather than continuous operation or frequent activation, the system applies hazard lights selectively based on objective criteria (speed deviations, sudden steering inputs, emergency brake events), ensuring warning effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4365026B1System and method for warning of hazardous operating conditions of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4365026B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4365026B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4365026B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A computer-implemented method (100) for warning road users of a hazardous operating condition of a heavy-duty vehicle (1) is provided. The method (100) comprises obtaining (110) by a processor device of a computer system, a speed limit interval (22) associated with a road (20) on which a heavy-duty vehicle (10) is travelling, and wherein the speed limit interval (22) is based on a speed limit (24) of the road; determining (120), by the processor device, that a travelling speed (12) of the heavy-duty vehicle (1) is outside the speed limit interval (22); determining (130), by the processor device, that a travelling angle (14) of the heavy-duty vehicle (1) and/or of the road (20) on which the heavy-duty vehicle (1) is travelling is outside a predetermined travelling angle range (16); and automatically controlling (140), by the processor device, said vehicle hazard lights (30) of the heavy-duty vehicle (1) based on the travelling speed (12) and the travelling angle (14).