Pre-Collision Vehicle Control for Rear-End Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic braking systems in vehicles are ineffective for stopped vehicles or those at risk of being hit by an approaching vehicle, as they cannot prevent rear-end collisions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A collision adjustment system that proactively adjusts vehicle braking, acceleration, and steering systems based on sensor data and vehicle-to-vehicle communication to minimize impact forces and change collision locations, including reducing braking force for rear-end collisions and altering impact locations for side impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic braking systems are used to prevent collisions, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the system cannot help stopped vehicles or vehicles at risk of being hit from behind
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the target vehicle actively brake to avoid collision, the system inverts the approach by having the approaching vehicle brake. The collision adjustment system detects vehicles approaching from behind and transmits braking signals to those vehicles, making the approaching vehicle perform the avoidance action rather than the stopped vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces communication systems as an intermediary between vehicles. The collision adjustment system uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication to transmit braking signals from the stopped vehicle to the approaching vehicle, enabling the stopped vehicle to influence the approaching vehicle's braking action without direct mechanical connection.
2Reliability
If braking force is increased to prevent rear-end collisions, then collision prevention is improved, but it may cause forward obstacles to be hit or create other hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies braking force locally to the approaching vehicle rather than the target vehicle. By transmitting braking signals only to vehicles detected as approaching from behind, the system avoids the problem of the target vehicle's brakes affecting forward obstacles, as the braking action occurs in the approaching vehicle where no forward obstacles exist.
Solution Approach 2:
Using communication systems as an intermediary allows the braking command to be transmitted to the approaching vehicle without the target vehicle's physical braking system engaging. This eliminates the risk of the target vehicle's brake application causing harm to forward obstacles while still achieving collision avoidance through the approaching vehicle's braking.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vehicle control systems are adjusted proactively before collision, then impact forces are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collision adjustment system performs preliminary actions by detecting approaching vehicles and transmitting braking signals before the actual collision occurs. This proactive approach allows the approaching vehicle to reduce speed in advance, thereby reducing impact forces when collision becomes unavoidable, while the system itself remains relatively simple in structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for modifying one or more vehicle control systems in a target vehicle prior to a collision with an approaching vehicle are disclosed. The system and method include detecting that a collision is imminent and controlling one or more vehicle control systems automatically to change the impact duration and/or location, depending on the type of collision detected.