Lane Marking Branch-Point Tracking for Mixed Lane Types

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lane tracking systems struggle with accuracy when multiple lane marking types are present, particularly in areas with frequent changes, leading to incorrect assignment and failure in associating lane markings.

Innovation Solution

A driving assistance device that utilizes a lane marking detection unit, type candidate estimation, branch point estimation, and integration unit to distinguish regions with different lane marking types and integrate them continuously, enhancing tracking accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If one lane marking type is assigned to an observation result, then the system is simple to operate, but the accuracy of lane marking tracking decreases in areas with frequent type changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of lane marking type assignmentVSAvoidaccuracy of lane marking tracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The observation range is divided into multiple regions, and a different lane marking type is assigned to each region. This segmentation allows the system to handle areas with frequent type changes by locally adapting the lane marking type to each region rather than assigning a single type to the entire observation range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lane marking types are assigned to different regions within the observation range based on local characteristics. This local quality approach enables the system to accurately track lane markings in areas with frequent type changes while maintaining simplicity in areas with consistent types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If lane marking type changes are detected and regions are distinguished, then the accuracy of lane marking tracking improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of lane marking trackingVSAvoidcomplexity of lane marking type assignment system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The observation range is divided into multiple regions, and a different lane marking type is assigned to each region. This segmentation allows the system to handle areas with frequent type changes by locally adapting the lane marking type to each region rather than assigning a single type to the entire observation range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lane marking type assignment is made dynamic by detecting type changes and adapting the assignment to each region. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond to changing lane marking types in real-time, improving tracking accuracy without requiring a completely complex static system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If association is performed using position, shape, and type of lane marking, then the reliability of lane marking association improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of lane marking associationVSAvoidcomplexity of lane marking parameter detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The observation range is divided into multiple regions, and a different lane marking type is assigned to each region. This segmentation allows the system to handle areas with frequent type changes by locally adapting the lane marking type to each region rather than assigning a single type to the entire observation range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lane marking types are assigned to different regions within the observation range based on local characteristics. This local quality approach enables the system to accurately track lane markings in areas with frequent type changes while maintaining simplicity in areas with consistent types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12602935B2Driving assistance device and driving assistance method

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

A driving assistance device that recognizes a lane marking around an own vehicle with at least one sensor includes a lane marking detection unit that detects lane marking information from data acquired by the sensor, a lane marking type candidate estimation unit that recognizes a lane marking type from the detected lane marking information and calculates a likelihood of each lane marking type, a lane marking type branch point estimation unit that detects a lane marking type branch point that is a point at which a likelihood of the lane marking type changes with respect to an advancing direction of the own vehicle, and distinguishes regions before and after the lane marking type branch point as a first region and a second region, and a lane marking information integration unit that, in a case where a lane marking of the first region and a lane marking of the second region have the same lane marking type, integrates the lane marking of the first region and the lane marking of the second region into a continuously recognizable lane marking.