Longitudinal Driver Assistance for Lateral Cut-In Risk Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current driver assistance systems for vehicle longitudinal control lack sufficient real-time adaptation to diverse traffic and driving situations, leading to inefficient use of traffic space and increased collision risk due to inadequate input of up-to-the-minute driving state and environmental information.

Innovation Solution

A driver assistance system that adjusts vehicle longitudinal control based on the changing angle of incidence of approaching vehicles, incorporating real-time detection of vehicle and road parameters such as class, load, tire condition, and road friction, to determine collision risk and adapt safety distances accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed safety buffer distance is maintained for longitudinal control, then collision risk is reduced, but traffic space utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision risk reductionVSAvoidtraffic space utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the safety buffer distance based on real-time detection of lateral vehicles and current driving conditions. The control unit continuously monitors the lateral position, speed, and angle of incidence of adjacent vehicles, and adapts the longitudinal safety distance accordingly. This dynamic approach replaces fixed safety margins with situation-adapted distances, resolving the contradiction between collision avoidance and traffic space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the safety distance parameter based on detected driving conditions, including the presence of lateral vehicles, their speed, angle of incidence, and predicted trajectories. By adjusting this critical parameter in response to environmental factors, the system optimizes both safety and efficiency, allowing smaller safety margins when conditions permit and larger margins when risks are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of control system by driver is allowed, then system adaptability improves, but operation complexity and error risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-adjusting control system that automatically monitors driving conditions, detects lateral vehicles, calculates collision risks, and adapts longitudinal control parameters without driver intervention. The system serves itself by using its own sensors and processing units to make real-time adjustments, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining high adaptability to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives feedback from sensors about lateral vehicles, current speed, distance to vehicles ahead, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop enables automatic adaptation of control parameters, with the control unit adjusting safety distances based on real-time information about potential cutting-in maneuvers and collision risks, thereby achieving adaptability without manual input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If additional sensors and detection systems are added to improve situation awareness, then collision detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the control unit multi-functional by enabling it to perform both longitudinal control and lateral situation detection. The same processing unit that manages acceleration and braking also analyzes data from lateral sensors to detect potential cutting-in vehicles. This universal approach allows accurate situation awareness without adding separate dedicated detection systems, thereby improving measurement precision while limiting complexity growth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4273010B1Driver assistance system and method of operation for a driver assistance system for longitudinal control of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP4273010B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4273010B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4273010B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a driver assistance system (100) for longitudinal control of a vehicle (1) with respect to another vehicle (2), preferably for speed and/or distance control. The invention further relates to an operating method for a driver assistance system (100) for longitudinal control of a vehicle (1), wherein a changing angle of incidence of another vehicle (2) approaching laterally or laterally from the rear is incorporated into the longitudinal control of the vehicle.