Vehicle Lane-Change Control Using Virtual Vehicles in Blind Traffic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control devices struggle to smoothly change lanes due to the inability to set virtual vehicles at appropriate positions based on traffic environments, especially when nearby vehicles are not recognizable, leading to difficulties in adjusting speed and position for safe lane changes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that recognizes nearby vehicles and sets first and second virtual vehicles based on the position and speed of actual vehicles in the target lane, allowing the vehicle to change lanes using these virtual positions, with the controller determining the speed of virtual vehicles based on the speed of vehicles in the lane, enabling flexible lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle control device uses virtual vehicles to model nearby vehicles for lane changing, then the vehicle can perform lane changing control, but the device cannot set virtual vehicles at appropriate positions depending on traffic environment, leading to inability to smoothly change lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by setting virtual vehicles at predicted positions before actual lane changing occurs. The controller calculates where virtual vehicles should be positioned based on current traffic conditions and vehicle speeds, enabling the lane changing control to be prepared in advance with appropriate reference positions already established.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting the positions and speeds of virtual vehicles based on actual traffic conditions. The controller modifies the speed parameters of virtual vehicles to match actual vehicle speeds in the target lane, and adjusts position parameters to reflect real-time traffic environment, enabling adaptive lane changing control.
2Measurement precision
If the recognizer detects nearby vehicles, then the vehicle can identify actual vehicles in the target lane, but when vehicles are not recognizable, the control device lacks sufficient information to determine appropriate lane changing timing and position
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates copies by generating virtual vehicles that replicate the characteristics and positions of actual vehicles in the target lane. When actual vehicles cannot be recognized or are partially observable, the virtual vehicles serve as informational copies, allowing the control device to maintain awareness of traffic conditions and make informed lane changing decisions without direct observation of all relevant vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device includes a controller configured to, when a plan is made to change a lane of the vehicle from a first lane to a second lane, cause the vehicle to change the lane to the second lane based on a position of a vehicle that travels in the second lane. When a first other vehicle which travels in the second lane and is a predetermined distance from the vehicle is recognized and a second other vehicle behind the vehicle in the second lane is not recognized, the controller sets a first virtual vehicle behind the first other vehicle and a second virtual vehicle behind the first virtual vehicle, and causes the vehicle to change the lane to the second lane based on a position of the first other vehicle, a position of the first virtual vehicle, and a position of the second virtual vehicle.