Automatic Lane Change Control Under Shrinking Gap Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional travel control systems fail to appropriately manage lane changes when the available space becomes insufficient during the maneuver.
Innovation Solution
A travel control apparatus and method that provide the driver with information on canceling an automatic lane change when a part of the vehicle crosses the lane mark but not all of it, using sensors, GPS, and control algorithms to assess and communicate the changing space conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic lane change control is initiated when space is sufficient, then lane change can be completed safely, but space may become insufficient during the maneuver causing control failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of space conditions before initiating lane change, and continuously monitors space availability during the maneuver. The control apparatus calculates the distance to adjacent vehicles and determines whether sufficient space exists both at the start and throughout the lane change process, allowing proactive adjustment before space becomes insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the space conditions during lane change execution and provides feedback to the control apparatus. When the monitored distance to adjacent vehicles indicates that space is becoming insufficient, the system feedbacks this information to trigger appropriate control actions such as canceling the lane change or adjusting the maneuver parameters.
2Ease of operation
If lane change is automatically controlled without driver intervention, then operation convenience is improved, but safety control is reduced when space becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains automatic control for routine operations while implementing feedback mechanisms that monitor space conditions continuously. When space becomes insufficient during the maneuver, the feedback system alerts the driver and offers cancellation options, transitioning from fully automatic to driver-in-the-loop control to ensure safety while preserving operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary between the automatic control system and the driver. It monitors space conditions, evaluates safety, and mediates by providing information to the driver when automatic control may no longer be safe, allowing the driver to make the final decision while maintaining the benefits of automated monitoring and assistance.
Data Source
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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 step of determining, when the second range becomes small after initiating the lane change as compared with the second range before initiating the lane change, at least one of a method of presenting information to a driver of the subject vehicle when discontinuing or continuing the lane change, a control content after discontinuing or continuing the lane change, and a travel position of the subject vehicle in a road width direction on a basis of a positional relationship in the road width direction between a lane mark which the subject vehicle gets across in the lane change and the subject vehicle.