Predictive Lane Change Control Using Road Grade Feasibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional route look-ahead systems do not provide comprehensive information on dynamic vehicle operating conditions, leading to inefficient lane change and takeover events, particularly for heavy-haul vehicles, as they fail to account for road grades and other dynamic factors, resulting in unsuccessful attempts that waste fuel and emissions.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes look-ahead road grade data and dynamic communication with other vehicles and remote systems to determine the feasibility and efficiency of lane change events, providing tailored recommendations and real-time notifications to drivers through visual and haptic feedback, and adjusting vehicle operations to optimize fuel efficiency and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional route look-ahead systems are used to provide basic road information, then system complexity is reduced, but lane change decision accuracy and fuel efficiency optimization deteriorate due to lack of dynamic vehicle operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines route look-ahead system data with dynamic vehicle operating condition data from multiple sensors (engine control module, transmission control module, brake control module) to create a comprehensive decision-making system. This merging of data sources enables accurate lane change decisions by integrating road grade information with real-time vehicle speed, engine load, and subsystem operating conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between system complexity and decision accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes route look-ahead data, monitors dynamic vehicle operating conditions, evaluates lane change feasibility, determines fuel efficiency implications, and provides driver notifications. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to handle both basic route information and complex dynamic vehicle parameters, improving lane change decision accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Loss of time
If lane change events are executed without comprehensive dynamic condition analysis, then response time is reduced, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to unsuccessful lane change attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of lane change feasibility by analyzing dynamic vehicle operating conditions and predicted road grades before the lane change event is executed. The controller assesses whether the vehicle can achieve the necessary speed increase given current engine load, transmission gear, and brake system status, thereby preventing unsuccessful lane change attempts that would waste fuel while maintaining quick response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors dynamic vehicle operating conditions during the lane change decision process and provides feedback to the controller. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment of lane change recommendations based on actual vehicle performance, ensuring that lane change events are timed optimally to maximize fuel efficiency while maintaining rapid response to driver needs.
3Productivity
If comprehensive dynamic vehicle operating conditions are monitored and analyzed, then lane change efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing vehicle subsystems and their embedded sensors (engine control module, transmission control module, brake control module) to provide dynamic operating condition data. Rather than adding dedicated sensors, the controller utilizes data already being collected by these self-service vehicle systems, thereby improving lane change efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that integrates data from multiple existing vehicle subsystems. It receives dynamic operating condition information from the engine control module, transmission control module, and brake control module, processes this information along with route look-ahead data, and generates lane change recommendations. This intermediary approach consolidates data processing functions and improves lane change efficiency without requiring each subsystem to become more complex.
4Speed
If lane change decisions are made without considering predicted road grades, then decision speed is maintained, but reliability of successful lane change execution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates predicted road grade information from the route look-ahead system into preliminary lane change feasibility assessments. By evaluating upcoming road grades before making lane change decisions, the controller can determine whether the vehicle will have sufficient power and speed to complete the lane change maneuver successfully, thereby improving reliability without significantly impacting decision speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a controller comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receiving information indicative of operation of the vehicle and of a driving condition for the vehicle; determining that a speed of the vehicle is less than a target speed for the vehicle based on the received information; determining, in response to the determination that the speed is less than the target speed, that the lane change and takeover event is at least one of feasible or efficient based on the received information; and providing, in response to the determination regarding the lane change and takeover event, a notification.