Lane Change Assistance Using Target-Speed Feasibility Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane change assistance devices struggle to execute lane changes when a host vehicle is traveling at a low speed due to the influence of a preceding vehicle, making it difficult to determine if a lane change is possible.
Innovation Solution
A lane change assistance device that includes a recognition unit to detect surrounding vehicles, a lane change determination unit to assess the relative speed and inter-vehicle distance, and a travel control unit to execute lane changes based on a target speed set in advance, allowing for travel speed control to facilitate lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lane change determination is based on current travel speed, then safety is ensured, but lane change opportunities are reduced when traveling at low speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for lane change determination from current travel speed to target speed (predetermined speed). This allows the system to evaluate lane change feasibility based on the intended speed rather than the current constrained speed, enabling lane changes even when traveling at low speed due to preceding vehicles. The target speed reflects the driver's intended state rather than current limitations.
2Reliability
If lane change is executed at current low speed, then safety margin is maintained, but travel efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary speed adjustment to reach the target speed before executing the lane change. This preliminary action ensures that when the lane change occurs, the vehicle is traveling at an efficient speed, thereby reducing travel time and improving overall travel efficiency while maintaining safety margins through controlled acceleration.
3Productivity
If target speed control is implemented, then lane change opportunities increase, but risk of rapid acceleration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by controlling the acceleration process to reach target speed before lane change. This gradual speed adjustment cushions against the risk of rapid acceleration during lane change, ensuring smooth and safe transitions while still enabling lane changes at low initial speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
A lane change assistance device includes: a recognition unit configured to recognize a surrounding situation of a host vehicle; a lane change determination unit configured to determine, when another vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane is detected, whether a lane change is possible based on a relative speed between the host vehicle and the another vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance therebetween; and a travel control unit configured to execute the lane change based on a determination result. The travel control unit is configured to further execute travel speed control for controlling a travel speed of the host vehicle based on a target speed set in advance. The lane change determination unit is configured to determine, while the travel speed control is being executed, whether the lane change is possible based on the relative speed when the target speed is the travel speed of the host vehicle.