Platooning Vehicle Lamp Synchronization for Event Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lamp control systems for platooning vehicles only respond to events from the leading vehicle, failing to collectively control lamps of leading and following vehicles based on various events such as platoon deviation, participation, and order changes, which limits effective communication and recognition during platooning.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a controller to synchronize the activation and flickering of turn signal lamps and side marker lamps across leading and following vehicles in response to events like turn signals, new vehicle participation, and changes in platooning order, enhancing visibility and communication among vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional lamp control systems only respond to events from the leading vehicle, then the control system is simple, but the communication effectiveness and event recognition among platooning vehicles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp control system is segmented to handle different event types separately. The controller identifies specific events (turn signal, participation, deviation, order change) and applies distinct lamp control strategies for each event type, allowing comprehensive event recognition while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular event handling
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various event types using a unified control framework. The same controller and lamp infrastructure serve multiple purposes: turn signal indication, participation announcement, deviation warning, and order change notification, reducing overall system complexity while improving information communication
2Illumination intensity
If lamps are not collectively controlled across leading and following vehicles, then the control system is simpler, but the visibility and communication of platoon events to surrounding drivers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp control systems of the leading vehicle and following vehicles are merged into a coordinated collective control system. The controller synchronizes lamp activation across multiple vehicles for each event type, creating enhanced visual communication patterns that improve event visibility and recognition while managing complexity through centralized control logic
3Loss of information
If turn signal lamps and side marker lamps are not synchronized, then the control system is simpler, but the effectiveness of communicating directional information to surrounding drivers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The turn signal lamps and side marker lamps are controlled to flicker synchronously in periodic patterns. This synchronized periodic activation creates a distinctive visual signal that effectively communicates directional information to surrounding drivers, while the periodic nature of the flicker pattern makes the system manageable and easily implementable
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured for controlling lamps of platooning vehicles including a leading vehicle and a plurality of following vehicles, may include a memory configured to store information related to the following vehicles; and a controller configured to collectively control lamps of the leading vehicle and following vehicles in a response to events occurring in the leading vehicle and following vehicles.