Lane Change Risk Display for Multiple Following Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving support systems only provide lane change indication based on the closest following vehicle, failing to inform drivers about the feasibility of lane change with subsequent vehicles, leading to potential risks during overtaking.
Innovation Solution
A driving support apparatus that images the rear side of a subject vehicle, calculates distances and relative speeds with multiple following vehicles, evaluates the risk of lane change, and displays support information on the captured image to indicate the degree of risk associated with lane changes, enabling drivers to anticipate risks from multiple vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only the guide line corresponding to the closest following vehicle is displayed, then the display information is simple and clear, but the driver cannot determine whether the lane change is enabled after the following vehicle in advance
Solution Approach 1:
The display information is segmented into multiple guide lines, each corresponding to a different following vehicle (closest, second closest, etc.). Each guide line provides lane change feasibility information for its associated vehicle, allowing the driver to assess risks from multiple vehicles simultaneously without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to the display by showing not only the current lane change feasibility (based on closest vehicle) but also future lane change feasibility (based on subsequent vehicles). This allows the driver to anticipate whether lane change will be enabled after the closest vehicle passes, transforming a single-point-in-time indication into a time-extended guidance system.
2Reliability
If guide line information for multiple following vehicles is displayed, then the driver can determine lane change feasibility in advance, but the display information becomes complex and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
Different visual characteristics are assigned to different guide lines based on their corresponding vehicles' positions and risks. The guide line for the closest following vehicle uses one set of visual attributes (e.g., color, position) while guide lines for subsequent vehicles use different attributes, allowing the driver to quickly distinguish between multiple risk levels without confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides preliminary guidance by displaying guide line information for subsequent following vehicles before the actual lane change execution point is reached. This allows the driver to anticipate future lane change feasibility and plan accordingly, reducing the need for rapid decision-making at the critical moment.
3Loss of time
If the driver waits to determine lane change feasibility after being overtaken, then the display remains simple, but time is lost and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The display controller provides preliminary lane change feasibility information by showing guide lines for subsequent following vehicles before the closest vehicle completes its overtaking maneuver. This advance information allows the driver to make informed decisions without waiting for the situation to evolve, reducing decision-making time while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions against potential safety risks by providing advance warning through multiple guide lines. By showing the driver whether lane change will be enabled after each subsequent vehicle, the system prepares the driver in advance for potential changes in lane change availability, preventing last-minute unsafe decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving support apparatus includes an image acquisition that acquires a captured image, a calculator that calculates distance and relative speed between a subject vehicle and a following vehicle, and distances and relative speeds between following vehicles; an evaluator that evaluates a degree of risk caused when the subject vehicle changes a lane to the adjacent lane with respect to the following vehicles on a basis of the distances and the relative speeds; and a display controller that creates support information on the degree of risk associated with a lane change in association with road sections based on positions at which the following vehicles are present, and displays a support image in which a created support information is superimposed on the captured image at a corresponding position on the display portion.