Vehicle Lane-Change Control Using Traffic-Based Viable Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems struggle to predict appropriate timing for smooth lane changes during autonomous driving, especially when multiple lane changes are required en route to a destination, and fail to execute lane changes effectively due to traffic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that acquires traffic information, computes the easiness level of lane changes in segments along the route, extracts viable segments for smooth lane changes, and executes lane changes using driving assistance, optionally with occupant input and display of viable segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the vehicle waits until near the limit point to execute lane change, then the lane change timing is late and may miss the opportunity, but the vehicle responds to immediate lane change needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring traffic information and computing easiness levels for multiple segments before the vehicle reaches the limit point. This allows the vehicle to identify viable lane change segments in advance and execute the lane change at an optimal earlier timing, preventing both late lane changes and missed opportunities.
2Productivity
If the vehicle executes lane change at the limit point, then the lane change is performed at the latest possible moment, but traffic conditions may prevent successful lane change
Solution Approach 1:
The system evaluates multiple segments in advance before reaching the limit point, computing easiness levels based on traffic information for each segment. This preliminary evaluation identifies viable lane change segments where the easiness level meets or exceeds a reference level, ensuring the lane change can be successfully executed at an optimal timing rather than forcing it at the limit point.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects the lane change execution timing based on computed easiness levels of different segments. Instead of a fixed timing at the limit point, the vehicle can execute the lane change at any segment along the route where conditions are favorable, making the lane change timing flexible and adaptive to traffic conditions.
3Device complexity
If the vehicle does not predict viable lane change segments in advance, then the control system is simple, but the vehicle cannot execute smooth lane changes due to unfavorable traffic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the travel route into multiple discrete segments between the current position and the limit point. Each segment is independently evaluated for lane change easiness based on traffic information. This segmentation allows the control system to identify specific viable segments for lane change execution, improving lane change smoothness through informed timing selection.
4Loss of time
If the vehicle acquires and processes traffic information for multiple segments, then the lane change timing can be optimized, but the computation and processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential traffic information needed for lane change decision-making from the overall traffic data. It computes easiness levels for multiple segments by extracting relevant traffic conditions (such as congestion, accidents, or roadworks) that directly impact lane change feasibility, rather than processing all possible traffic parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device installed at a vehicle configured to perform driving assistance, the vehicle control device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: in cases in which there is a need to change lanes at or before a specific limit point on a route to a destination, acquire traffic information for a travel route from a current position to the limit point; compute an easiness level of lane change by driving assistance in a plurality of segments on the travel route based on the acquired traffic information; extract any segments for which the easiness level computed is a reference level or higher as viable lane change segments; and in cases in which at least one of the viable lane change segments has been extracted, execute a lane change in any one of the at least one viable lane change segments that have been extracted.