Retractable Vehicle Surroundings Confirmation for Lower Drag
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle structures face limitations in reducing air resistance and wind noise generated by vehicle surroundings confirmation devices like outer rearview mirrors during travel, even with improvements in reducing air resistance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with a vehicle surroundings confirmation device that can switch between an expanded state for visibility and a stored state to minimize wind impact, controlled by a control device when autonomous driving is performed at level 3 or higher, eliminating the need for manual monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the vehicle surroundings confirmation device is kept in the deployed state to ensure visibility, then the occupant can confirm the situation outside the vehicle, but air resistance and wind noise increase during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle surroundings confirmation device is designed to dynamically change its state based on driving conditions. It switches between a deployed state (first state) for visibility and a stored state (second state) for reduced air resistance. The control device automatically transitions the confirmation device between these states according to the autonomous driving level, making the system adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the vehicle surroundings confirmation device. By transitioning between deployed and stored states, the device alters its spatial configuration and exposure area to traveling wind, thereby changing the parameter of air resistance while maintaining visibility when needed.
2Reliability
If the vehicle surroundings confirmation device is kept in the deployed state to ensure monitoring capability, then the occupant can monitor the periphery of the vehicle, but air resistance increases during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the monitoring capability based on the autonomous driving level. At level 3 or higher where monitoring duty is unnecessary, the device transitions to the stored state to reduce air resistance. When manual monitoring is required (below level 3), the device remains in the deployed state, making the monitoring capability adaptive to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically determines when to deploy or store the vehicle surroundings confirmation device based on the autonomous driving level, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system self-regulates its monitoring capability and physical state according to operational context.
3Loss of energy
If the vehicle surroundings confirmation device is switched to the stored state to reduce air resistance, then fuel consumption improves, but visibility of vehicle surroundings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between deployed and stored states based on the autonomous driving level. When autonomous driving at level 3 or higher is active, the device transitions to the stored state to reduce fuel consumption. When manual driving or lower autonomous levels are active, the device remains deployed to maintain visibility, making the trade-off automatic and context-dependent.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle capable of performing autonomous driving at a predetermined level or more at which monitoring obligation around the vehicle is unnecessary includes a vehicle surroundings confirmation device that is attached to the outside of the vehicle in order for a vehicle occupant to confirm a situation outside the vehicle, and a control device. The vehicle surroundings confirmation device is configured to switch between a first state in which the vehicle surroundings are confirmable to the vehicle occupant by the vehicle surroundings confirmation device, and a second state in which an area of a portion where traveling wind strikes the vehicle surroundings confirmation device is smaller than in the first state. The control device is configured to switch the vehicle surroundings confirmation device to the second state when the autonomous driving at a predetermined level or more at which the monitoring obligation around the vehicle is unnecessary is performed.