Lane Change Assistant Using Relative Speed and Position Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane change assistance technologies fail to ensure quick and safe lane changes, especially when inter-vehicle distances are small and speed differences between vehicles are significant, as they do not adequately consider the traveling states of multiple vehicles on the target lane.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistant system that determines a proposed lane change section based on relative speeds and positions of parallel-traveling vehicles on adjacent lanes, using sensors like stereo cameras, radar units, and traffic information communication, to assess the feasibility of a lane change by calculating coming-level time periods and section distances, and adjusts the proposed lane change section accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing lane change assistance techniques are used, then lane change safety is maintained, but lane change speed is reduced due to inadequate consideration of multiple vehicles' traveling states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the target lane into multiple sections based on the positions of parallel-travelling vehicles. Each section is evaluated independently for lane change feasibility, allowing the system to identify safe lane change opportunities even when the entire lane is occupied. This segmentation enables faster lane change decisions by focusing on specific viable sections rather than evaluating the whole lane at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the lane change assistance based on real-time traveling states of multiple vehicles. The system continuously monitors relative speeds and positions of parallel-travelling vehicles, recalculating proposed lane change sections as vehicles move. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to quickly identify and execute safe lane changes when conditions permit, improving lane change speed while maintaining safety.
2Device complexity
If existing lane change assistance techniques are used, then simple vehicle presence detection is achieved, but accurate assessment of multiple vehicles' traveling states is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-functional assessment approach where the same detection system evaluates multiple aspects of vehicle traveling states. The system simultaneously determines presence, relative speed, relative position, and lane change feasibility for multiple parallel-travelling vehicles using integrated sensor data. This universal assessment method maintains detection system simplicity while achieving comprehensive traveling state accuracy.
3Length of moving object
If small inter-vehicle distances are present on the target lane, then lane change opportunities are reduced, but existing systems fail to identify available opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of analysis by evaluating lane change feasibility in the longitudinal direction along the target lane, rather than only in the lateral direction. By segmenting the target lane into multiple longitudinal sections and assessing each section's feasibility independently, the system can identify lane change opportunities even when inter-vehicle distances are small. This dimensional approach transforms the problem from a single binary decision to a multi-section evaluation, revealing hidden lane change opportunities.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistant for vehicles provides lane change assistance, and includes a proposed lane change section setting unit and a lane change determination unit. The proposed lane change section setting unit provides setting of a proposed lane change section that is a proposed section where an own vehicle enters an adjacent lane, based on relative speeds and relative positions of the own vehicle to respective ones of a plurality of parallel-travelling vehicles on the adjacent lane. The lane change determination unit determines whether or not the own vehicle is allowed to enter the proposed lane change section, based on a moving speed of the proposed lane change section and a speed of the own vehicle.