Lane Splitting Detection and Communication System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lane splitting by motorcycles and bicycles often places them in a driver's blind spot, increasing the risk of accidents during lane changes, as existing systems lack effective notification mechanisms for nearby vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A lane splitting notification system that includes a lane detector to determine if a vehicle is performing a lane splitting maneuver and transmits a signal to nearby vehicles, alerting drivers and potentially autonomous vehicles to adjust their position to give more room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If motorcycles and bicycles perform lane splitting to reduce traffic congestion, then road space utilization is improved, but the risk of accidents increases due to drivers not being aware of their presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary between lane splitting vehicles and other road users. The system includes a transmitter in the motorcycle/bicycle that sends signals to nearby vehicles, and receivers in other vehicles that display alerts to drivers. This mediator enables awareness without requiring physical contact or direct observation, resolving the contradiction by allowing lane splitting while reducing accident risk through information transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the position of the lane splitting vehicle relative to other vehicles and providing real-time notifications. When the motorcycle or bicycle is detected in a position that could affect other drivers (such as near blind spots), the system provides feedback to those drivers through visual or audible alerts, enabling them to adjust their behavior and avoid accidents.
2Reliability
If drivers maintain diligent monitoring to detect lane splitting vehicles, then accident prevention is improved, but driver attention and cognitive load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling vehicles to automatically detect and communicate the presence of lane splitting vehicles without requiring manual monitoring by drivers. The communication system autonomously performs detection, signal transmission, and alert generation, freeing drivers from the burden of constant vigilance while maintaining high accident prevention levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/cognitive system of human driver monitoring with an electronic detection and communication system. Sensors, transmitters, and receivers substitute for human eyes and attention, automatically detecting lane splitting vehicles and notifying drivers through automated alerts, thereby reducing cognitive load while improving reliability.
3Reliability
If existing notification systems were implemented to alert drivers of lane splitting vehicles, then accident risk would be reduced, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall complexity. The same transmitter and communication infrastructure can serve multiple purposes: lane splitting detection, general vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and integration with existing navigation or safety systems. This universal approach allows accident risk reduction without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the infrastructure serves multiple functions simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes a lane detector programmed to output a boundary signal representing a location of a lane boundary relative to a host vehicle. A processing device is programmed to determine, from the boundary signal, whether the host vehicle is performing a lane splitting maneuver. If so, the processing device is programmed to transmit a lane splitting signal.