Platooning Lane Change Control via Dynamic Gap Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle platooning systems face challenges in safely and efficiently managing lane changes, particularly due to restricted driver visibility, which increases the risk of traffic accidents during events like traffic accidents or road construction.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that incorporates a manipulation portion for inputting lane change commands, a detector portion for recognizing Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW) information, and a controller to perform lane changes based on BCW data, allowing vehicles to automatically or manually switch to a longitudinal following mode and adjust the constant distance gap (CDG) for safe lane changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles maintain a constant distance gap (CDG) during platooning, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the ability to respond to lane change situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the constant distance gap (CDG) between vehicles based on lane change requirements. When a lane change is needed, the CDG is temporarily increased to provide the leading vehicle with sufficient space to maneuver, then returns to the optimal fuel-efficient gap once the lane change is complete. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the distance gap adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of inter-vehicle distance (CDG) from a static value to a dynamic value that can be adjusted based on operational conditions. The controller modifies the CDG parameter in response to lane change commands, increasing it during lane change operations and restoring it to the fuel-optimized value afterward, thereby balancing fuel efficiency with lane change capability.
2Ease of operation
If the leading vehicle performs lane changes manually, then driver control is maintained, but the risk of traffic accidents increases due to restricted visual field
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an automatic lane change control system as an intermediary between the driver's lane change request and the actual vehicle maneuver. When the driver activates the turn signal, the controller automatically executes the lane change by adjusting steering and maintaining appropriate CDG, eliminating the need for the driver to manually steer while preserving driver intent and significantly improving safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's control system performs the lane change maneuver autonomously once the driver initiates the lane change request via turn signal. The system self-manages the complex coordination of steering, acceleration, and distance gap adjustment without requiring continuous driver input, allowing the driver to maintain oversight while the system handles the physically demanding and safety-critical maneuvering tasks.
3Reliability
If the constant distance gap (CDG) is increased for lane changes, then lane change safety is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by temporarily increasing the CDG only during the brief period when lane change is required, then restoring the CDG to the fuel-optimized smaller gap for the majority of driving time. This periodic adjustment ensures that safety requirements are met when needed while minimizing the impact on fuel efficiency during normal platooning operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for controlling platooning of vehicles includes: a manipulation portion configured to input an operation command when a lane change is needed during the platooning; a detector portion configured to recognize Blind-spot Collision Warning (BCW) information regarding the plurality of vehicles; and a controller configured to perform the lane change using the BCW information according to the operation command.