Vehicle Lane Change Control Using No-Entry Zones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane change support systems may incorrectly determine that a lane change is possible when lane restriction items are present, potentially leading to vehicle damage or collisions, as they fail to account for the installation interval of these items being larger than the required distance for a lane change.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle travel support system that uses sensors to acquire surrounding situation information, determines if a lane restriction item is present, and sets a no-entry zone including the item and a predetermined distance, prohibiting lane changes until the vehicle passes through this zone, thereby preventing entry into restricted lanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle uses traditional lane change support method calculating relative distance and TTC to surrounding vehicles, then the lane change determination is simple and quick, but the vehicle may incorrectly determine lane change is possible when lane restriction items are present, leading to entry into restricted lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of lane restriction items (pylons, construction signs) before executing lane change maneuvers. By identifying these items in advance and establishing no-entry zones, the system prevents incorrect lane change decisions that would otherwise be made based solely on vehicle spacing metrics like TTC and relative distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary detection layer that identifies lane restriction items as intermediate objects between the vehicle and the target lane. This intermediary detection mechanism provides additional information that mediates the final lane change decision, preventing entry into restricted areas even when traditional metrics suggest the maneuver is safe.
2Device complexity
If lane restriction items are installed intermittently at larger intervals, then the installation cost and complexity are reduced, but the relative distance and TTC to these items become large, causing the vehicle to incorrectly determine that lane change is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes no-entry zones in advance based on the detected position of lane restriction items, creating a preventive buffer zone that extends beyond the physical item location. This preliminary zone establishment ensures that even when items are sparsely installed, the system maintains accurate lane change feasibility assessment by prohibiting entry before the vehicle reaches the restricted area.
3Reliability
If the vehicle prohibits lane change when any lane restriction item is detected, then entry into restricted lanes is prevented, but the lane change functionality is overly restricted even when safe to change lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies lane change prohibition locally and selectively within the established no-entry zone rather than globally. By defining specific restricted areas around detected lane restriction items, the system prevents entry into hazardous zones while allowing lane changes in other areas where the maneuver remains safe and appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle travel support system includes: an information acquisition device that uses a sensor to acquire surrounding situation information; and a vehicle travel control device that controls travel of a vehicle. When a lane change to an adjacent lane is necessary, the vehicle travel control device uses the surrounding situation information to determine whether or not there is a lane restriction item indicating that entry into the adjacent lane is restricted. When there is the lane restriction item, the vehicle travel control device sets a zone of the adjacent lane including a position of the lane restriction item and having a predetermined distance as a no-entry zone. The vehicle travel control device prohibits the lane change until the vehicle passes through a side of the no-entry zone and permits the lane change after the vehicle passes through the side of the no-entry zone.