Lane-Keeping Steering Assist for Driver-Intent Path Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle drive assist apparatuses face challenges in smoothly transitioning back to the original traveling path after the driver intentionally steers the vehicle away from obstacles, leading to discomfort due to unintended vehicle behavior.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle drive assist apparatus incorporates a surrounding situation information acquisition device, a steering torque sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a traveling controller to detect the driver's intended steering and create a new target lane keeping or lane departure prevention path, allowing for smooth control in response to the driver's intentions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle executes lane keeping traveling control to travel along the center of the traveling lane, then the vehicle can maintain proper lane positioning, but the vehicle may conflict with driver's intended steering when the driver wants to avoid obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the target lane keeping traveling path adjustable based on driving conditions. When avoidance targets are detected, the system dynamically shifts the target path laterally from the lane center to accommodate driver intent, while maintaining lane keeping functionality. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of target path position based on detected steering torque and presence of avoidance targets. By modifying the target lane keeping traveling path position parameter dynamically, the system balances automated lane keeping reliability with driver comfort when avoiding obstacles.
2Reliability
If the vehicle executes lane departure prevention control to suppress departure from the traveling lane, then the vehicle can prevent unintended lane departure, but the vehicle may activate control against driver's intention when the driver intentionally steers away from the lane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from the steering torque sensor to detect driver intent. When steering torque exceeds a threshold, the system interprets this as intentional lane departure and suppresses lane departure prevention control. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to distinguish between unintentional and intentional lane departure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts control activation based on real-time steering torque detection. By making the lane departure prevention control conditional rather than constant, the system adapts to driver intent while maintaining safety when needed.
3Reliability
If the vehicle returns to the original target lane keeping traveling path after driver steers away, then the vehicle can restore proper lane positioning, but the vehicle may cause driver discomfort by executing control against current driver intent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the target lane keeping traveling path dynamic rather than fixed at the lane center. When the driver steers away from the lane, the target path shifts laterally to follow the driver's intended direction, preventing conflict between automated control and driver intent during the transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by shifting the target path before the driver completes the steering maneuver. This anticipates the driver's intent and prepares the control system to follow rather than resist the steering input, eliminating discomfort.
Data Source
AI summary
Surrounding situation information of a vehicle is acquired. A steering torque applied by using a steering mechanism of the vehicle is detected. A steering angle and a steering direction of the vehicle are detected. Traveling control involving steering assist control is executed based on those pieces of information. In a case where a steering torque amount or the steering angle is detected, a new target lane keeping traveling path or a predetermined target lane departure prevention traveling path of the vehicle is created based on the steering torque amount, the steering angle, and the steering direction of the vehicle. In a case where the steering torque amount or the steering angle is detected again within a predetermined period, the new target lane keeping traveling path or the predetermined target lane departure prevention traveling path is set and traveling control is executed along the set traveling path.