Automatic Stop Control Using Obstacle Height and Sonar Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic sonar type braking systems struggle to differentiate between obstacles of varying heights, leading to unnecessary automatic braking when encountering obstacles with relatively small heights, such as curbs, which users may want to navigate over instead of braking for.
Innovation Solution
A control device for automatic vehicle stop that utilizes a combination of radar and sonar systems to detect obstacle height and adjust the threshold for triggering automatic braking based on the detected height, allowing the vehicle to ride over small obstacles while braking for larger ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sonar type braking system is used to detect obstacles, then collision mitigation capability is improved, but false braking occurs when encountering small obstacles such as curbs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar and sonar systems into an integrated obstacle detection system. The radar detects obstacle height while the sonar detects reflected wave signal levels. By merging these two detection systems, the patent achieves both reliable collision mitigation (through sonar) and accurate height differentiation (through radar), thereby eliminating false braking on small obstacles while maintaining safety for actual hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameters by introducing height detection capability through radar. The system uses the detected obstacle height parameter to adjust the braking threshold dynamically. When obstacles are detected with heights below a predetermined threshold (indicating small obstacles like curbs), the system suppresses automatic braking. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliable collision detection and false braking prevention.
2Reliability
If automatic braking is triggered for all detected obstacles, then safety is improved, but user satisfaction deteriorates due to unnecessary braking on small obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different obstacle types differently based on their detected height. Instead of applying a uniform braking response to all obstacles, the system selectively applies braking only to obstacles exceeding the height threshold (potential hazards), while allowing the vehicle to proceed over smaller obstacles (curbs, blocks). This differentiated local response maintains safety for dangerous obstacles while improving user satisfaction by avoiding unnecessary braking.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If ultrasonic sonar is used for obstacle detection, then detection capability is improved, but height differentiation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges radar and sonar systems to achieve both detection capability and height differentiation. The sonar provides reliable obstacle detection through reflected wave analysis, while the radar simultaneously provides accurate height measurement. By combining these complementary systems, the patent achieves both improved detection capability and precise height differentiation that neither system could achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system acts as an intermediary that provides height information to supplement the sonar's detection capability. The sonar detects the presence and reflected wave characteristics of obstacles, while the radar mediates by providing the missing height parameter. This intermediary height information enables the control unit to differentiate between small obstacles (curbs) and large obstacles (pedestrians, walls), resolving the height differentiation limitation of sonar alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents unnecessary automatic braking when encountering small obstacles, enhancing user satisfaction by allowing the vehicle to navigate over such obstacles, while ensuring safety by triggering braking for larger hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle includes a radar system and a sonar system, the radar system detecting a distance to an obstacle and detecting a height of the obstacle from a road surface
Implementation Method 2
the sonar system detecting the distance to the obstacle and detecting a signal level of a reflected wave from the obstacle
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for automatic stop of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a radar and a sonar, the radar detecting a distance to an obstacle and detecting a height of the obstacle from a road surface, the sonar detecting the distance to the obstacle and detecting a signal level of a reflected wave from the obstacle. The control device includes a control unit having a processor configured to output a signal for triggering the automatic stop of the vehicle when the signal level of the reflected wave from the obstacle is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the control unit is configured to change the predetermined threshold for triggering the automatic stop of the vehicle between a first predetermined threshold and a second predetermined threshold based on the height of the obstacle detected by the radar.