Rear Obstacle Alert Control for Tailgate and Cargo Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assistance systems fail to account for rearward protrusions from vehicle tailgates or cargo, leading to delayed driver responses and increased collision risks when obstacles are detected.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance device that includes rear sensors and a processor to detect obstacles and issue alerts based on extended or offset alert target areas when rearward protrusions are present, adjusting alert levels accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the alert target area is set based on the rear bumper position only, then the alert system is simple to implement, but collisions with rearward protrusions cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The alert target area is dynamically adjusted based on tailgate opening detection and cargo presence detection. When the tailgate is opened or cargo protrudes beyond the rear bumper, the alert target area automatically extends rearward to account for the additional protrusion distance, ensuring collision prevention while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the alert target area parameters (extension distance) based on detected conditions. By detecting tailgate opening state and cargo protrusion, the system modifies the alert target area parameters to extend beyond the rear bumper position, enabling reliable collision prevention without complex additional hardware
2Reliability
If the alert target area is extended rearward to account for protrusions, then collision prevention is improved, but the alert may trigger earlier than necessary in normal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the alert target area parameters based on detected conditions. When no protrusion is detected, the alert target area remains at the standard rear bumper position, preserving normal driver response time. When protrusion is detected, the parameters are adjusted to extend the area rearward, ensuring collision prevention only when necessary
3Measurement precision
If the system detects tailgate and cargo position to adjust alert areas, then accuracy in preventing protrusion collisions is improved, but the detection system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing multi-functional sensors (camera, sonar, radar) already deployed for general obstacle detection to also detect tailgate position and cargo protrusion. This approach achieves accurate protrusion detection without adding dedicated detection devices, maintaining system simplicity while improving measurement precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents collisions by ensuring timely driver responses to obstacles through adjusted alert areas and levels, even when rearward protrusions are present.
Implementation Method 1
The sonar is incorporated into the rear bumper of the own vehicle. It emits ultrasonic waves to the rear of the own vehicle, which are then reflected off obstacles. The sonar receives these reflected waves.
Data Source
AI summary
The processor controls the notification device to issue an alert when it detects an obstacle within a predetermined first alert target area extending rearward from the own vehicle in a first situation, where neither the tailgate TG nor the cargo protrudes beyond the rear end of the rear bumper RB. In a second situation, where a part of the opened tailgate TG or part of the cargo protrudes beyond the rear end of the rear bumper RB, the processor controls the notification device to issue an alert when an obstacle OB is detected within a second alert target area, which is extended or offset rearward from the first alert target area.