Lateral Guidance for Vehicle Platoon Following

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current platoon driving systems lack automatic, dynamic lateral guidance for following vehicles, leading to high mental stress due to restricted driver vision and the need for manual control at close distances, which can be hazardous and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatic, dynamically controlled lateral guidance of a following vehicle within a platoon, using a sensor system to detect relative deviations and calculate a setpoint steering angle to maintain lane following, with optional vehicle-to-vehicle communication for enhanced precision, and employing Ackermann's equation and yaw rate control for steering angle calculation based on vehicle speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual lateral control is used by the driver in a platoon, then the driver can directly control the vehicle, but the driver experiences high mental stress due to restricted field of vision and close following distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver control capabilityVSAvoiddriver mental stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical steering control with an automated lateral guidance system that uses sensor data and control algorithms to steer the following vehicle automatically, eliminating the need for continuous driver intervention and reducing mental stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The following vehicle's control system automatically adjusts its own lateral position and steering angle based on detected relative deviations from the lead vehicle, enabling self-guidance without requiring constant driver attention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If automated lateral guidance is implemented using sensor systems, then driver stress is reduced and lateral control is automated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral guidance automationVSAvoidsensor and control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal sensor system that serves multiple functions: detecting longitudinal distance, lateral deviation, and relative position of the lead vehicle, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized sensors and simplifying the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously detects relative deviations and feeds this information back to adjust the steering angle dynamically, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically corrects lateral position without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the following vehicle maintains a short distance to the lead vehicle for efficient infrastructure use, then fuel savings and traffic safety are improved, but the driver's field of vision is severely restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic infrastructure efficiencyVSAvoiddriver field of vision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the driver's visual monitoring function with an automated sensor-based detection system that continuously monitors the lead vehicle's position and provides lateral guidance, eliminating the need for the driver to visually track the lead vehicle despite close following distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If vehicle-to-vehicle communication is used for lateral guidance, then guidance precision is improved, but the system requires additional communication infrastructure and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral position detection accuracyVSAvoidcommunication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication as an intermediary to exchange lateral position and steering information between the lead and following vehicles, enabling more precise cooperative lateral guidance without requiring direct complex sensor-to-sensor communication infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3373095B1Method for sequence control in the traverse direction of a vehicle within a platoon and vehicle for carrying out the method

Publication Date: 2020.05.13 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the lateral control of a vehicle (2) in a platoon (10) consisting of a leading vehicle (9) that sets the speed and direction, and one or more following vehicles (1, 2) that follow at close intervals, wherein a following vehicle (2) orients itself to the leading vehicle (1) in front of it. According to the invention, for the automatic, dynamically controlled lateral guidance of the following vehicle (2), the relative deviation (Δx, Δy) between a predetermined front reference point (3) of the following vehicle (2) and a rear reference point (5) of the leading vehicle (1) is detected by means of sensors on the following vehicle (2).From the recorded relative deviation (Δx, Δy) a target steering angle (δtarget) for the steered front wheels of the following vehicle (2) is calculated, such that when this target steering angle (δtarget) is set, the following vehicle (2) follows the leading vehicle 1 in its lane, and that by means of the calculated target steering angle (δtarget) with an associated control variable, the steered front wheels of the following vehicle (2) are set to this target steering angle (δtarget) for lane-bound following.