Platoon Radar Tracking Control for Vehicle Exit Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adaptive cruise control systems in heavy vehicles experience inefficiencies when a lead vehicle exits a platoon, leading to increased fuel consumption, brake wear, and driver irritation due to unnecessary braking and speed adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that determine when a vehicle is likely to leave a platoon, limit the radar detector's field of view to exclude adjacent paths, and implement a driving strategy based on vehicle and environmental characteristics to maintain platoon efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the adaptive cruise controller continues to track the target vehicle after it starts leaving the platoon, then the target tracking is maintained, but the follower vehicle unnecessarily reduces speed and increases fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting turn maneuvers and predicting platoon departure before the target vehicle actually leaves. By using navigation system data and locating system information, the system anticipates the departure and prepares to discontinue tracking in advance, avoiding unnecessary braking and fuel consumption while maintaining reliable tracking during the transition period
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the target vehicle's path changes, turn probability, and platoon departure status. This feedback loop allows the ACC to dynamically adjust tracking behavior, discontinuing tracking when departure is detected and resuming when appropriate, thereby optimizing fuel consumption while maintaining tracking reliability
2Reliability
If the adaptive cruise controller maintains tracking of a vehicle exiting via off-ramp, then continuous target tracking is ensured, but brake wear increases due to prolonged braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects turn maneuvers and predicts platoon departure in advance using navigation and locating systems. By identifying the target vehicle's intention to exit via off-ramp before the actual departure occurs, the system can discontinuate tracking proactively, preventing prolonged braking and reducing brake wear while maintaining tracking continuity during the critical transition phase
3Speed
If the adaptive cruise controller tracks the target vehicle after path difference exceeds threshold, then speed recovery is achieved, but driver irritation increases due to abrupt speed changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of turn maneuvers and predicts platoon departure before the target vehicle actually leaves. By discontinuing tracking in advance based on predicted departure, the system avoids the cycle of tracking-resuming-speed recovery-driver irritation, providing smoother speed transitions and improving driver acceptance while maintaining appropriate speed recovery when departure is confirmed
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
The solution enables continuous fuel-efficient platooning, improves driver acceptance by alerting drivers to potential departures, reduces brake wear, and efficiently closes gaps between vehicles, minimizing disruptions when a vehicle leaves the platoon formation.
Implementation Method 1
a radar detector, arranged to the at least one neighboring vehicle and facing the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4
AI summary
A device (1), system (12) and a method for a platooning operation. The device (1) comprises a leaving determination module (5) configured to determine an indication that a vehicle (10) in a platoon (8) might leave the platoon (8) and drive into an adjacent path based on data indicating that the vehicle (10) might leave the platoon (8) wherein the platoon (8) includes at least one neighboring vehicle (9, 11). Provided an indication has been determined, the device (1) is configured to limit a field of view of a radar detector (17), such that the adjacent path is not included in the field of view of the radar detector (17). The device (1) is further configured to determine from data from the radar detector (17) if the vehicle (10) has departed from the current path and thus left the platoon (8). The device (1) further comprises a driving strategy module (6) configured to determine a driving strategy for the platoon (8), such that the platoon (8) may be maintained when the vehicle (10) has left the platoon (8).