Vehicle Platooning Control on Slopes Using Dead-Reckoning Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Platooning vehicles face difficulties in maintaining safe distance on slope sections due to limited field of view of front sensors, leading to potential collisions when a preceding vehicle disappears from view, especially on downward slopes.
Innovation Solution
A platooning control method and system that uses a dead-reckoning sensor to determine slope entry and exit, adjusting deceleration based on slope inclination, and switching to front sensor data for distance information when exiting the slope, ensuring stable platooning control by calculating target braking control values to maintain safe distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If platooning vehicles use front sensors (camera or radar) to detect distance and speed of preceding vehicles, then platooning control can be performed in flatland sections, but the preceding vehicle disappears from view when entering downward slopes, causing instantaneous control difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dead-reckoning sensors as an intermediary measurement system to bridge the detection gap when front sensors fail on slopes. The dead-reckoning sensors measure longitudinal distance and speed independently, providing continuous platooning control data when optical/radar sensors lose the preceding vehicle from view due to slope geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by switching from optical/radar-based distance and speed detection to dead-reckoning-based longitudinal distance and speed detection. This parameter change enables continuous measurement on slopes where the preceding vehicle exits the front sensor's field of view, maintaining platooning control reliability.
2Productivity
If vehicles maintain close distance for efficient platooning, then productivity increases, but collision risk increases when slope detection fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting slope entry before the preceding vehicle disappears from view. The dead-reckoning sensors continuously monitor longitudinal distance and speed, and the system proactively switches to slope-mode platooning control, preventing the detection gap that would otherwise lead to collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing dead-reckoning measurements with front sensor data in flatland sections, and using dead-reckoning data alone when slopes are detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that the platooning control system adapts to changing road conditions, maintaining both efficiency and safety.
3Reliability
If dead-reckoning sensors are used for distance measurement on slopes, then platooning control stability improves, but device complexity increases due to additional sensor requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the dead-reckoning sensor system to serve multiple functions: it provides backup distance measurement on slopes, enables slope detection through pitch angle measurement, and can supplement front sensor data in challenging driving conditions. This multi-functionality justifies the additional sensor complexity by providing comprehensive platooning control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A platooning control method includes: determining whether a preceding vehicle, which is located in front of a host vehicle, has entered a slope section when a plurality of vehicles are moving on a road, acquiring longitudinal distance information between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle using a Dead-Reckoning (DR) sensor of the host vehicle upon determining that the preceding vehicle has entered the slope section, and performing platooning control by the host vehicle with the plurality of vehicles in the slope section using the longitudinal distance information acquired by the DR sensor and speed information.