Relative Lane Assignment Using Road Mapping Curvature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety systems face challenges in accurately determining whether an object is in the same lane as the vehicle, especially at greater distances, due to measurement inaccuracies and decreasing ability to identify lane markings, which complicates collision risk assessment, particularly on curved roads.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle safety system that consults a road mapping database to determine the vehicle's lane and calculates the lane width based on geographic position, using equations that adjust for distance and curvature, to accurately assess if an object is in the same lane, thereby generating alerts for potential collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional sensor-based lane identification methods are used, then the system can detect objects and determine basic position, but measurement precision deteriorates at greater distances and on curved roads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane identification accuracyVSAvoiddistance to object

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces road mapping data as an intermediary reference framework. Instead of relying solely on direct sensor detection of lane markings at distance, the system uses pre-stored road geometry information (curvature, lane width, lane position) as a mediator to infer and correct the vehicle's lane position and the object's relative lane position, thereby maintaining measurement precision at greater distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the lane width parameter based on road curvature data from the road mapping database. By modifying the expected lane width parameter according to the curvature radius and vehicle position, the system compensates for perspective distortion and measurement inaccuracies that occur at greater distances and on curved roads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If lane markings are used for identification, then the system can determine lane position, but the ability to identify lane markings deteriorates at greater distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane position determinationVSAvoiddistance to object

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing road mapping information including lane positions, widths, and curvatures in a database before the vehicle reaches those locations. This advance preparation allows the system to immediately compare sensor data against known road geometry when objects are detected, ensuring reliable lane position determination even when lane markings are difficult to identify at distance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Road mapping data serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between limited visual detection capabilities and accurate lane position determination. The system uses the pre-stored road geometry as a reference framework to infer lane positions without relying solely on direct visual identification of distant lane markings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the system increases detection distance, then more objects can be identified, but measurement inaccuracies increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of detectable objectsVSAvoidobject location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously comparing sensor-measured object positions and distances against positions predicted based on road mapping data and vehicle trajectory. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and correct measurement inaccuracies that accumulate at greater distances, maintaining object location accuracy while enabling detection of more distant objects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts measurement and evaluation parameters based on distance. For objects at greater distances, the system modifies parameters such as detection thresholds, position tolerance ranges, and confidence levels, allowing it to maintain acceptable measurement precision across a wider range of distances by adapting to the increased uncertainty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10239451B1Systems and methods for providing relative lane assignment of objects at distances from the vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A system for a vehicle operating on a road includes a vehicle placement module that references, based on a geographic position of the vehicle, a road mapping database to identify a selected lane of the road where the vehicle is located. A lane assignment module (i) receives information indicating identification of an object in the road and (ii) determines a relative lane of the object with respect to the selected lane. A curvature plotting module determines a curvature line of the selected lane. An object placement module (i) determines a first distance value representing a shortest distance between the object and the curvature line and (ii) determines whether the relative lane of the object is the selected lane based on the first distance value and a lane width value. An alert generation module selectively generates an alert signal in response to the object being in the selected lane.