Lane Change Support Device Speed Difference Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane change support systems may not adequately reduce the speed difference between a vehicle and adjacent vehicles during lane changes, leading to discomfort for occupants due to rapid changes in inter-vehicle distance.
Innovation Solution
A support device that includes a detection unit, calculation unit, extraction unit, determining unit, setting unit, and supporting unit to identify suitable lane change areas and adjust speed to minimize the speed difference by calculating and maintaining a required inter-vehicle distance and standby time, allowing for comfortable lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the own vehicle is accelerated by using the distance between the own vehicle and the vehicle in front of it secured by deceleration, then the lane change can be performed, but the difference in speed between the row of vehicles traveling in the adjacent lane and the own vehicle may not become less than that before the deceleration, causing the inter-vehicle distance to decrease rapidly and making occupants feel discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary speed adjustment before lane change by extracting a standby time and target speed as lane change conditions. The own vehicle adjusts its speed to reach the target speed after the standby time elapses, ensuring the speed difference with adjacent vehicles is reduced before the actual lane change occurs. This preliminary speed adjustment prevents rapid inter-vehicle distance changes and occupant discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the speed difference between the own vehicle and adjacent vehicles, and uses this feedback to determine appropriate standby time and target speed values. By extracting these parameters within preset allowable ranges based on real-time speed difference measurements, the system dynamically adjusts speed control to maintain comfortable lane change conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the system waits for a longer standby time to reduce speed difference, then occupant comfort improves, but the time required for lane change increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts both a standby time and a target speed as lane change conditions within preset allowable ranges. By changing from a fixed time-based approach to a dual-parameter approach (time and speed), the system can optimize the combination of standby duration and target speed to achieve comfortable lane changes while minimizing total time requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the standby time and target speed based on real-time traffic conditions and speed differences. Rather than using a fixed waiting period, the system extracts optimized parameters that adapt to current conditions, allowing flexible balancing between comfort and time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A detection unit detects one of a plurality of inter-vehicle areas as an area candidate where the own vehicle can perform lane change. A calculation unit calculates a required inter-vehicle distance which should be secured between the own vehicle and a nearby vehicle upon lane change to the area candidate. An extraction unit extracts, within preset allowable ranges, a standby time and a target speed used for estimating an estimated inter-vehicle distance as lane change conditions which are conditions for the estimated inter-vehicle distance to be equal to or more than the required inter-vehicle distance. When the lane change conditions are extracted, and a determining unit determines that lane change is possible, a setting unit sets the area candidate as the lane change area.