Lane Change Control Using Map Database for Diverging Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lane change systems face difficulties in determining whether a recognized lane is in a diverging or merging section, especially when the section length is short or traffic is high, making it challenging for vehicles to safely change lanes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a precise map database, navigation module, GPS, sensors, and a processor to determine the feasibility and execute lane changes in diverging or merging sections by assessing lane lengths and traffic conditions, and controlling the vehicle to change lanes or follow adjacent lanes when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional lane change system uses camera-based lane recognition, then the system can perform basic lane changes, but it cannot determine whether the recognized lane is located in a diverging section or a merging section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a map database as an intermediary component that provides prior geographic information about diverging and merging sections. This external knowledge base mediates between the camera-based lane recognition system and the lane change control system, enabling the vehicle to identify its location in special road sections without fundamentally changing the camera recognition mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading map data that identifies diverging and merging sections before the vehicle reaches them. The processor compares the vehicle's current location with the map database in advance, allowing the system to prepare appropriate lane change strategies before entering the actual diverging or merging section, rather than reacting after the fact.
2Reliability
If the diverging section or merging section length is short or traffic is high, then a typical lane change system cannot safely perform lane changes, but the vehicle still needs to reach its destination
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the lane change strategy based on real-time conditions. When the diverging or merging section is short or traffic is heavy, the system determines that a direct lane change is unsafe and automatically switches to an alternative strategy: traveling along the adjacent lane and then changing to the target lane later. This dynamic adaptation ensures safety while still progressing toward the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the lane change parameters (such as the timing and location of the lane change maneuver) based on the characteristics of the diverging or merging section. By evaluating the length of the section and traffic conditions, the system adjusts when and how the lane change should be executed, or selects an alternative routing strategy through adjacent lanes.
3Reliability
If the vehicle travels along the lane link connected with the target lane instead of changing lanes directly, then the vehicle can reach the destination safely, but it increases the travel time and distance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a partial lane change action by traveling along the adjacent lane for a portion of the distance before eventually changing to the target lane. This partial action along the lane link is sufficient to safely navigate the constrained diverging or merging section, and the system optimizes the length of this partial traversal to minimize time loss while ensuring safety.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for controlling a lane change in a vehicle includes a navigation module for guiding a user along a path from a starting point to a destination point, a GPS module, a memory, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor for being electrically connected with the navigation module, the GPS module, the memory, the first sensor, and the second sensor. The processor determines whether it is possible to control a lane change to a target lane in the path based on a length of a diverging lane in a diverging section or a length of a merging lane in a merging section in the diverging section or the merging section included in the path, controls the lane change to the target lane, and controls the vehicle to travel along a lane link connected with the target lane.