Road Type Determination Under Camera Occlusion in Platoon Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems struggle to accurately determine the road type when the field of view is obstructed by a preceding vehicle, hindering the use of camera images for platoon driving, which is crucial for reducing air resistance and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that utilizes an imaging device to capture images and a control device to recognize specific objects, employing alternative determination methods when camera recognition fails, such as using map information, roadside signals, or user input, to determine the road type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the inter-vehicle distance is made smaller to reduce air resistance, then energy consumption is reduced and cruising distance is increased, but the field of view of the camera is blocked by the preceding vehicle, making road type determination impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary determination measure that acts as a mediator between the imaging device and the control device. When camera images are obstructed by a preceding vehicle at small inter-vehicle distances, this intermediary measure (such as using map data, roadside facility detection, or other sensor information) transfers the necessary road type information to the control device, enabling platoon driving continuation without direct visual confirmation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual observation system (camera-based road type determination) with an alternative determination system. Instead of relying on optical imaging that is blocked by the preceding vehicle, the system substitutes other determination methods such as map data matching, roadside facility detection via other sensors, or V2X communication to acquire road type information.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the inter-vehicle distance is made smaller for platoon driving, then air resistance and energy consumption are reduced, but safety is compromised due to increased risk of sudden braking from pedestrian jump-outs on local roads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control device continuously receives determination measures about road type and dynamically adjusts platoon driving control based on this feedback. When the determination measure indicates a local road (higher safety risk), the system provides feedback to restrict or prohibit platoon driving, thereby maintaining safety while allowing energy-efficient operation on expressways.
3Device complexity
If camera images are used for road type determination, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the determination fails when the field of view is obstructed by a preceding vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the determination system universal by enabling multiple determination methods to be used depending on conditions. The imaging device serves multiple functions: primary road type determination when unobstructed, and obstruction detection that triggers alternative determination measures. This multi-functionality maintains system simplicity while improving reliability across different operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system includes an imaging device configured to capture an image of an outside of a host vehicle to generate an image and a control device. The control device is configured to determine a road type of a road on which the host vehicle is traveling by recognizing a specific object in the image, and take a determination measure for determining the road type of the road on which the host vehicle is traveling when the specific object cannot be recognized.