Overtaking Schedule Control for Smooth Automatic Lane Changes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver assistance systems for automatic lane change (ALC) control often cause driver discomfort due to time delays and interruptions in overtaking maneuvers, as they determine lane change feasibility before initiating overtaking, leading to incomplete lane changes and discomfort for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance apparatus that includes an environment information acquisition unit and an overtaking control processor, which generates and executes an overtaking schedule for both initial and return lane changes based on relative vehicle speeds and positional relations with preceding and adjacent-lane vehicles, ensuring smooth overtaking without driver discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system determines lane change feasibility before initiating overtaking, then safety is improved, but driver comfort deteriorates due to time delays and interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of lane change feasibility and generates an overtaking schedule before the overtaking maneuver begins. This includes assessing the safety of lane changes to both the adjacent lane and original lane in advance, and planning the sequence of operations to ensure smooth execution without interruptions during the actual overtaking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the overtaking schedule based on real-time vehicle dynamics and environmental conditions. It monitors the positions and speeds of surrounding vehicles, and modifies the lane change timing and sequence to maintain both safety and driver comfort, avoiding fixed rigid timing that would cause discomfort.
2Reliability
If the system executes lane changes sequentially with determination before each action, then safety is improved, but time consumption increases leading to productivity loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the feasibility of both first lane change (to adjacent lane) and second lane change (return to original lane) before the overtaking maneuver begins. It generates a complete overtaking schedule that sequences both lane changes optimally, eliminating the need for repeated determination during execution and reducing overall time consumption while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous overtaking action by planning both lane changes in advance and executing them without interruptions or repeated safety determinations. The overtaking schedule maintains continuous progress from the initial lane change through the overtaking maneuver to the return lane change, maximizing productivity while preserving safety through pre-planning.
3Reliability
If the system performs repeated safety determinations during overtaking, then reliability is improved, but system complexity and response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs safety determinations for both lane changes before the overtaking maneuver begins and stores the results in the overtaking schedule. This eliminates the need for repeated safety assessments during the actual overtaking execution, reducing control system complexity and improving response time while maintaining high reliability through advance planning.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver assistance apparatus includes an environment information acquisition unit and an overtaking control processor. The environment information acquisition unit acquires a traveling environment information of an own vehicle. The overtaking control processor executes overtaking control based on relative vehicle speeds and positional relations of the own vehicle with a preceding vehicle and an adjacent-lane vehicle that are detected based on the traveling environment information. The overtaking control processor includes an overtaking schedule generator and an overtaking control execution unit. The overtaking control processor generates, in advance before the overtaking control, an overtaking schedule regarding first automatic lane change control adapted to move the own vehicle to an adjacent lane and second automatic lane change control adapted to cause the own vehicle to overtake the preceding vehicle and return to an original lane. The overtaking control execution unit automatically executes the overtaking control in accordance with the overtaking schedule.