Autonomous Lane Selection Using Adjacent-Lane Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous driving systems fail to effectively eliminate traffic flow imbalances between lanes, leading to congestion and inefficiencies in traffic management.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous driving system equipped with an information acquisition section, lane selection section, and control section that assesses vehicle density in adjacent lanes and adjusts lane changes based on threshold densities calculated considering relative speed, inter-vehicle distances, and lane congestion to optimize traffic flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lane change is performed based on vehicle speeds and inter-vehicle distances in adjacent lane, then lane change execution is enabled, but traffic flow imbalance cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vehicle density as a new parameter for lane change decision-making. By calculating vehicle density in both the current lane and adjacent lanes, and comparing these densities, the system can identify imbalanced traffic flow patterns and execute lane changes to restore balance, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling lane changes and eliminating traffic flow imbalance.
2Productivity
If autonomous lane change is performed to disperse traffic flow, then traffic flow balance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous driving system performs self-service by automatically calculating vehicle density, determining traffic flow balance, and executing lane changes without external intervention. The system monitors its own traffic flow impact and autonomously adjusts its lane position to disperse traffic flow and eliminate imbalances, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring vehicle density in the current lane and adjacent lanes, comparing these densities to identify imbalances, and using this information to make lane change decisions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically respond to traffic flow conditions and eliminate imbalances without requiring complex external control systems.
3Productivity
If vehicle density assessment is performed in adjacent lane, then traffic flow balance can be improved, but information acquisition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The information acquisition section performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it detects vehicles in both the current lane and adjacent lanes, calculates vehicle density for both lanes, and uses this information for lane change decisions. By making the information acquisition system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized systems while still achieving traffic flow balance improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous driving system acquires information concerning a vehicle density in an adjacent lane that is adjacent to a lane on which an own vehicle is traveling, when the own vehicle travels on a road having a plurality of lanes. The autonomous driving system selects the adjacent lane as an own vehicle travel lane, when the vehicle density in the adjacent lane that is calculated from the acquired information is lower than a threshold density that is determined in accordance with relations between the own vehicle and surrounding vehicles. The autonomous driving system performs lane change to the adjacent lane autonomously, or propose lane change to the adjacent lane to a driver, when the adjacent lane is selected as the own vehicle travel lane.