Dynamic Lane Change Range Adjustment for Vehicle Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional travel control systems for vehicles are unable to appropriately determine when to perform lane changes, even when the necessity level is high, leading to uncomfortable experiences for drivers due to delayed lane changes until a suitable space is found in the adjacent lane.

Innovation Solution

A travel control method and apparatus that utilize sensors and a control device to detect obstacles and set a target range for lane change in an adjacent lane, allowing lane changes when the detected range is clear of obstacles and adjusting the range based on the necessity level of lane change, enabling more timely and appropriate lane changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the subject vehicle waits for a space to be found in the adjacent lane before changing lanes, then the safety of lane change is improved, but the responsiveness to driver's lane change intention deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of lane changeVSAvoidresponse time for lane change
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the monitoring range adjustable based on the necessity level. When the necessity level is high, the monitoring range is reduced to allow faster lane changes. When the necessity level is low, the monitoring range is expanded to ensure higher safety. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety and responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of monitoring range size according to the necessity level of lane change. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system can prioritize either safety or responsiveness depending on the current driving situation, thus resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If the monitoring range for lane change is reduced to enable faster lane changes, then the responsiveness to driver's lane change intention is improved, but the detection accuracy of obstacles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for lane change executionVSAvoidobstacle detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring range is dynamically adjusted based on the necessity level rather than being fixed. This allows the system to reduce the range when quick lane changes are needed while maintaining adequate detection accuracy for the reduced range, resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by focusing detection resources on the specific reduced range when necessity level is high, rather than uniformly reducing detection quality across all areas. The system maintains high detection accuracy within the smaller, relevant monitoring zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the monitoring range is expanded to ensure comprehensive obstacle detection, then the safety of lane change is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of lane changeVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a permanently large monitoring range that would increase system complexity, the patent uses a dynamic monitoring range that expands or contracts based on the necessity level. This approach maintains safety when needed while avoiding the constant complexity of managing a large fixed range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system achieves multiple functions through a single mechanism: when the monitoring range is large, it provides comprehensive safety detection; when reduced, it enables faster lane changes. This multi-functionality avoids the need for separate systems for different monitoring scenarios, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3330943B1Method for controlling travel control device, and travel control device
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3330943B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3330943B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3330943B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A travel control method executed by a travel control apparatus (100) is provided. The travel control apparatus comprises a first detector (110) configured to detect an obstacle around a subject vehicle traveling in a first lane and a second detector (110) configured to detect a second lane adjacent to the first lane. The travel control apparatus sets a first range at a target position for lane change in the second lane. The first range has a size equal to or larger than a size which the subject vehicle occupies on a road surface. The travel control apparatus detects a range in the second lane as a second range. The range in the second lane is located at a side of the subject vehicle, and the obstacle is absent in the range in the second lane. The travel control apparatus permits the subject vehicle to change lanes when the second range includes the first range. The travel control method comprises a first step of determining a travel scene of the subject vehicle on the basis of a travel state of the subject vehicle, a second step of acquiring a necessity level of lane change that is predetermined in the travel scene, and a third step of performing correction to reduce the first range or increase the second range when the necessity level is a first determination value or more as compared with when the necessity level is less the first determination value.