Automated Driving Override Thresholds for Intersection Risk Stops

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Solution Overview

Problem

The risk of disturbing traffic flow or causing contact or collision with other vehicles at intersections when the risk mitigation function is activated in a remote-type automated driving system, as it may lead to encountering other traffic participants while guiding the vehicle to a refuge location.

Innovation Solution

A driving control apparatus with a risk mitigation function that searches for multiple target stopping location candidates based on vehicle location and map information, and when activated near an intersection, it selects a stopping location off the primary path and adjusts the override threshold value for occupant or passenger intervention to a higher value, preventing sudden changes in direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the risk mitigation function guides the vehicle to a refuge location at an intersection, then the vehicle can stop safely, but it may disturb traffic flow or cause contact/collision with other traffic participants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe stoppingVSAvoidtraffic disturbance and collision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality criteria for selecting stopping locations based on the local traffic environment. At intersections, the system specifically avoids stopping locations that would disturb traffic flow or cause collisions, while in other areas normal stopping criteria apply. This localized adaptation of stopping criteria resolves the contradiction by making the stopping behavior context-dependent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of potential stopping locations before executing the risk mitigation function. By evaluating traffic conditions, identifying safe stopping areas in advance, and planning the stopping trajectory beforehand, the system ensures that the vehicle can stop safely without disturbing traffic flow or causing collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the override threshold value is lowered to allow occupant intervention, then manual control can be activated, but inappropriate interventions may occur during RMF execution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual control activationVSAvoidinappropriate intervention prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The override threshold value is made dynamic rather than fixed. During RMF execution, the threshold is temporarily raised to prevent inappropriate interventions, while returning to normal levels when RMF is not active. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to balance ease of operation with reliability based on the current operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by raising the override threshold before inappropriate interventions can occur. By preemptively adjusting the threshold during RMF execution, the system prevents problematic manual interventions while still allowing emergency overrides when truly necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4250040A1Driving control apparatus for vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4250040A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4250040A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4250040A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem to be Solved] To lower the risk of disturbing the traffic flow or contact or collision with other traffic participants at an intersection when a risk mitigation function is activated. [Solution] A driving control apparatus for a vehicle 1 provided with an automated operation device 10 for executing automated driving by remote monitoring and control has a risk mitigation function (RMF) that executes risk mitigation control for stopping the vehicle 1 at a target stopping location S in a case in which the continuation of remote monitoring and control has become difficult and an override function that stops automated driving by the automated operation device 10 and switches to a manual driving mode in response to a control intervention by an occupant or passenger of the vehicle 1. The automated operation device 10 is configured to execute a search for a plurality of target stopping location candidates on the basis of location information about the vehicle 1 and map information during the automated driving in preparation for RMF activation, and in a case in which a target stopping location candidate located on a path different from a target path PA of automated driving is selected as the target stopping location S from among the plurality of target stopping location candidates when the RMF is activated in the vicinity of an intersection, to change an override threshold value serving as a determination reference for the control intervention by an occupant or passenger to a larger value than an override threshold value when the RMF is inactive.