Lane Positioning Control Using Road Marking Offset Distances

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle positioning systems for autonomous driving cause driver anxiety due to frequent trajectory adjustments and reliance on complex object detection, especially in dense traffic scenarios, and fail to provide a simple, reliable method for maintaining safe lateral distances.

Innovation Solution

A method using a vehicle-mounted camera to identify road marking lines, classify lane types, and adjust vehicle positioning based on configurable offset distances from lane edges, independent of detected objects, ensuring safe lateral positioning through image processing and electric power steering control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle positions itself in the middle of the lane using object detection, then lateral positioning control is achieved, but driver anxiety increases due to frequent trajectory adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral positioning controlVSAvoiddriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the dependency on complex object detection and trajectory adjustment by introducing a fixed offset distance from the lane marking line. Instead of continuously detecting objects and adjusting trajectory, the system simply maintains a predetermined offset distance, eliminating frequent swerving while preserving lateral positioning reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positioning parameter from dynamic trajectory adjustment to a fixed offset distance from the lane marking line. This parameter change simplifies the control strategy, reducing frequent adjustments while maintaining reliable lateral positioning and improving driver comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the system uses complex object detection and multiple sensors to maintain safe lateral distance, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe lateral distance maintenanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex object detection system and multiple sensors (radar, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors) from the lateral positioning system. By relying solely on camera-based lane marking detection with a fixed offset distance, the system maintains safe lateral distance while dramatically reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex detection systems with a simpler, more economical camera-based solution. The camera system detects lane markings and applies a fixed offset, providing adequate safety without the need for costly radar, LIDAR, or ultrasonic sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the vehicle maintains fixed positioning in the lane, then trajectory stability is improved, but adaptability to nearby objects decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrajectory stabilityVSAvoidresponse to nearby objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and maintaining a fixed offset distance from the lane marking line that inherently provides safe lateral clearance from nearby objects. This predetermined offset ensures both trajectory stability and adequate safety margins without requiring real-time adaptation to detected objects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3947077B1Method for controlling the positioning of a motor vehicle on a traffic lane
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3947077B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3947077B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3947077B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for controlling the positioning of a motor vehicle (10) on a road (1) comprising several traffic lanes defined laterally by road marking lines (16), comprising: receiving a signal originating from a camera (20) equipping the vehicle, analysing the signal in order to detect the road marking lines, identifying, according to a predefined classification of the types of road marking lines, the type of lines detected defining the vehicle's current traffic lane, determining characteristics of the current traffic lane depending on the type of road marking lines defining it and, if the current traffic lane is one of the left-most lane (13) or the right-most lane (11) in the vehicle's direction of travel, shifting the vehicle towards the distal edge (14,15) of the road relative to the central axis of the current traffic lane.