Autonomous Vehicle Yielding Control at Intersections for Emergency Passage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to safely and efficiently allow a vehicle to yield to an emergency vehicle by moving outside a stop line without risking collision with other vehicles at an intersection.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous driving system that detects an emergency vehicle, analyzes the movement patterns of preceding vehicles, determines a collision-free zone outside the stop line, and moves the vehicle to that zone with user consent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vehicle moves outside the stop line to yield to an emergency vehicle, then the emergency vehicle can pass smoothly, but the risk of colliding with vehicles in other lanes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the emergency vehicle and preliminary analysis of safe zones before the actual yielding maneuver. The controller identifies collision-free zones by analyzing trajectories of preceding vehicles in advance, so when the emergency vehicle is detected, the safe path is already determined and ready for execution
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the trajectories and movement patterns of preceding vehicles as intermediary information to determine safe zones. By analyzing how other vehicles have safely moved through the intersection, the system identifies validated safe paths for the current vehicle to follow, using historical vehicle behavior as a mediator to guide the yielding action
2Reliability
If the vehicle waits inside the stop line, then collision risk is reduced, but the emergency vehicle cannot pass efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vehicle's position based on real-time conditions. Instead of a static wait-at-stop-line approach, the controller continuously monitors for emergency vehicles and dynamically determines when and where to move outside the stop line, creating a dynamic yielding strategy that adapts to current traffic and emergency vehicle positions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from detecting emergency vehicle sirens, flashing lights, and horn sounds to trigger the yielding maneuver. The sensor continuously monitors the environment and provides feedback about emergency vehicle presence, which feeds back to the controller to initiate the appropriate yielding action
3Productivity
If the vehicle autonomously moves outside the stop line, then yielding speed is improved, but user acceptance and control agreement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by autonomously analyzing trajectories, determining safe zones, and executing the yielding maneuver without requiring detailed user input. The controller independently processes sensor data, calculates safe paths, and controls the vehicle's movement, making the system self-sufficient in the yielding decision-making process
Solution Approach 2:
The system obtains user agreement in advance before executing the autonomous yielding maneuver. The controller requests and receives user consent beforehand, so when an emergency vehicle is detected, the autonomous action can proceed immediately without delay for real-time user approval
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a subject vehicle includes detecting an emergency vehicle located around the subject vehicle while the subject vehicle waiting for a traffic signal inside a stop line at an intersection, determining, based on a location of the emergency vehicle, that the subject vehicle needs to yield way to the emergency vehicle, checking a signal system through moving patterns of preceding vehicles, collecting lane entry routes of vehicles, determining a free zone outside the stop line by analyzing the entry routes of vehicles, and causing the subject vehicle to travel to the determined free zone.