Overtaking Safety Control Using Forward and Rear Vehicle Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle vision systems struggle to safely automate overtaking maneuvers due to limited visibility and dynamic traffic conditions, which can lead to accidents.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular control system equipped with a camera and an electronic control unit (ECU) that processes image data to detect leading vehicles and determine the safety of overtaking maneuvers through visual indications and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicle vision systems use basic imaging sensors to detect leading vehicles, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of detecting visual indications are insufficient leading to unsafe overtaking decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging array is segmented into multiple regions including a first region for capturing the leading vehicle and a second region for capturing visual indications. This segmentation allows dedicated processing of different visual elements, improving detection precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through regional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional single-point object detection to area-based visual indication detection by defining specific regions within the image data. This dimensional approach enables more precise measurement of visual indications while structuring the complexity in an organized regional framework.
2Reliability
If the system captures comprehensive image data to ensure safe overtaking decisions, then the reliability improves, but the loss of time for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by capturing and analyzing visual indications from the leading vehicle before the overtaking maneuver is executed. The ECU determines the presence and characteristics of visual indications in advance, allowing safety assessment to be prepared beforehand, thus reducing critical processing time during the actual maneuver while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system focuses on capturing specific partial information (visual indications in designated regions) rather than processing all possible image data. By concentrating computational resources on relevant visual cues like brake lights or turn signals in specific regions, the system achieves sufficient reliability for safety determination while minimizing unnecessary processing time.
3Measurement precision
If the camera uses a high-resolution CMOS imaging array with at least one million photosensors, then the measurement precision of visual indications improves, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by directing full high-resolution analysis only to specific regions of the image where visual indications are expected (first and second regions). Other areas of the image receive minimal or no processing, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision for critical visual indications while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to processing the entire high-resolution image.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular control system includes a forward-sensing sensor and a rearward-sensing sensor disposed at an equipped vehicle. The system, as the equipped vehicle travels along a traffic lane of a road, and responsive to processing of forward sensor data captured by the forward-sensing sensor, determines a condition ahead of the equipped vehicle. The system, via processing of rearward sensor data captured by the rearward-sensing sensor, determines an overtaking vehicle rearward of the equipped vehicle and overtaking the equipped vehicle to pass the equipped vehicle. Based at least in part on the determined condition and the determined overtaking vehicle, the system determines a safeness of a passing maneuver by the overtaking vehicle. Responsive to determination that it is not safe for the overtaking vehicle to pass the equipped vehicle, the system indicates to the overtaking vehicle that it is not safe for the overtaking vehicle to pass the equipped vehicle.