Lane Change Distance Calculation for Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional car navigation systems often calculate paths that require difficult lane changes, which can pose safety risks for drivers and automated driving vehicles, as they may involve frequent lane changes on multi-lane roads with high congestion, making the guidance less reliable.
Innovation Solution
A calculation apparatus and method that break down the necessary distance for lane change into three components: start wait distance, speed adjustment distance, and lane change distance, allowing for a more accurate calculation of the total distance required for a lane change, thereby avoiding paths with difficult lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional path calculation algorithms are used, then path search function is achieved, but the calculated path may include intervals where lane change is difficult, reducing safety and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lane change process into three distinct distance components: (1) distance while waiting to start lane change, (2) distance while adjusting speed, and (3) distance while executing lane change. This segmentation allows for more accurate and reliable path evaluation by considering each phase separately, enabling the system to identify and avoid paths with difficult lane changes without overly complicating the overall path calculation framework
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the necessary lane change distance using the three-component method before final path determination. By pre-calculating the distance required for safe lane changes and comparing it with the available distance in the path, the system can proactively identify and eliminate unsafe path segments before presenting the final route to the user, thereby improving reliability without adding significant computational burden during real-time navigation
2Productivity
If paths with frequent lane changes are selected, then path length is reduced, but safety is compromised due to difficult lane change conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calculated necessary lane change distance is continuously compared with the available distance in the path. When the necessary distance exceeds the available distance, the path is flagged as unsafe and modified. This feedback loop ensures that travel efficiency is maintained by selecting optimal paths while automatically eliminating unsafe lane change scenarios, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters for path selection by incorporating the three-component lane change distance calculation. Instead of relying solely on traditional path metrics like distance and time, the system evaluates paths based on the feasibility of lane changes by comparing necessary distance (calculated from waiting, speed adjustment, and execution phases) with available distance. This parameter change enables the system to identify safer paths that maintain reasonable travel efficiency without compromising safety
Data Source
AI summary
A calculation apparatus includes a control unit configured to calculate a necessary distance that is necessary for a vehicle to perform lane change from a first travel lane to a second travel lane by combining a first distance that the vehicle travels while the vehicle waits to start the lane change, a second distance that the vehicle travels while a speed of the vehicle is adjusted, and a third distance that the vehicle travels while executing the lane change.