Vehicle Lane Change Control for Faster Adjacent Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lane change systems struggle to execute lane changes when the speed of the target lane is higher than the current lane, especially when the vehicle is too close to the preceding vehicle, leading to potential abandonment of the lane change.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize vehicle control based on driving environment information, including space, traffic stream speeds, and inter-vehicular distances, to determine if acceleration or deceleration is necessary to facilitate lane changes by setting a target space and executing appropriate control actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle accelerates during lane change to match the higher speed of the second lane, then the lane change execution is successful and traffic stream influence is minimized, but the vehicle requires sufficient front space to accelerate safely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary deceleration before the lane change maneuver to create sufficient front space. By reducing speed in advance (before entering the lane change sequence), the vehicle ensures that when acceleration is needed during or after the lane change, there is adequate space available to do so safely without colliding with the preceding vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the velocity parameter of the vehicle. When the front inter-vehicular distance is insufficient for safe acceleration, the control system modifies the speed parameter by decelerating the vehicle temporarily. This parameter change creates the necessary spatial conditions for successful lane change execution.
2Length of moving object
If the vehicle maintains current speed during lane change, then the front space is preserved, but the lane change influence on the second lane traffic stream increases and following vehicle may be forced to decelerate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary deceleration to create space, enabling subsequent acceleration that will match the second lane's speed. This preliminary action ensures that when the vehicle enters the second lane, it can accelerate to the appropriate speed, thereby minimizing negative influence on the traffic stream and preventing following vehicles from being forced to decelerate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful situation of having insufficient front space into a benefit by using temporary deceleration. This deliberate speed reduction creates the necessary space, which then enables safe acceleration to match the second lane speed, ultimately benefiting the traffic stream by allowing smooth lane change integration rather than forcing other vehicles to slow down.
3Reliability
If the vehicle decelerates temporarily to create space for acceleration, then the lane change can be executed successfully even with short front distance, but the lane change process time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs brief preliminary deceleration only when necessary (when front inter-vehicular distance is short), creating just enough space for the subsequent acceleration and lane change maneuver. This targeted preliminary action minimizes the time penalty while ensuring successful lane change execution in critical situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial deceleration - not a complete stop or prolonged slowing, but just enough speed reduction to create the minimum necessary space for safe acceleration during lane change. This partial action achieves the goal of enabling lane change while minimizing the time loss associated with the speed adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle control for a lane change from a first lane to a second lane is executed. In this vehicle control, a target space is set in the second lane based on information on a space in the second lane. When a speed of a traffic stream of the second lane is higher than that in the first lane, it is determined whether acceleration of the vehicle is able to perform in a front space of the vehicle in the first lane. When it is determined that acceleration of the vehicle is able to perform, acceleration and steering control of the vehicle for moving from the first lane to the target space is executed. Otherwise, temporal deceleration control of the vehicle on the first lane is executed.