Lane Keep Control Adjusting Steering Force for Lane Width Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lane keep control systems cause an odd feeling for drivers when lane widths change, as regular control amounts destabilize the vehicle's lateral position.

Innovation Solution

A drive control method and apparatus that adjust the steering control amount based on the change in lane width, using a 'gradual control amount' when one lane marking moves inward or outward, reducing the steering control amount to stabilize the vehicle's position and minimize driver discomfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lane keep control is carried out with a regular control amount, then the vehicle can maintain a prescribed position with respect to lane markings, but the lateral position of the vehicle becomes destabilized when lane width changes, giving the driver an odd feeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle position stabilityVSAvoiddriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control amount is dynamically adjusted based on the detected lane width. When the lane width is detected to be different from the standard width, the control amount is modified accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows the lane keep control to adapt to varying lane conditions, maintaining vehicle stability while preventing destabilization that would cause driver discomfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameter (control amount) based on the detected lane width condition. By detecting whether the lane width is wider or narrower than standard, the system adjusts the control amount to compensate for the changed geometry, ensuring stable lane keeping performance across different lane widths without causing odd feelings to the driver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the control amount is adjusted based on lane width changes, then driver discomfort is reduced, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver comfortVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different control amounts for different lane width conditions (wider than standard, narrower than standard, or standard). This local differentiation allows the control system to provide appropriate control for each specific lane width scenario, improving driver comfort while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure by only adjusting the control amount parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3483020B1Travel control method and travel control device
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3483020B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3483020B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3483020B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drive control method controls a drive control amount of a subject vehicle so that the subject vehicle may take a prescribed position with respect to lane markings of a lane in which the subject vehicle is running and reduces a drive control amount adopted when a lateral position of one of the lane markings along which the subject vehicle is running moves in a different direction from a lateral position of the other lane marking smaller than a drive control amount adopted when lateral positions of both the lane markings move in the same direction.