Mobile Body Road-Type Recognition for Context-Aware Speed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional technologies struggle to accurately distinguish between a roadway and a predetermined region, such as a sidewalk, leading to potential safety issues due to inappropriate speed control.

Innovation Solution

A mobile object control device that utilizes an external environment detection system to recognize road types by assigning point values based on specific events, using a road type recognition unit to differentiate between roadways and sidewalks, adjusting speed limits accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autonomous driving control is implemented using related art techniques, then basic autonomous navigation is achieved, but the system cannot properly handle emergency situations or unexpected events requiring immediate driver intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddriver intervention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring driver state through cameras and sensors, detecting when the driver is in an emergency situation (such as sudden steering input or brake pedal depression), and automatically notifying the driver to take control. This feedback loop ensures the system responds to actual driver needs while maintaining autonomous operation during normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its control mode based on real-time driver state assessment. During normal autonomous operation, the system maintains full autonomous control. When emergency situations are detected through driver behavior analysis, the system transitions to a notification mode, dynamically shifting control responsibility based on the assessed urgency and driver responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the system continuously monitors driver state to detect emergencies, then driver safety is improved, but system complexity and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver safetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driver monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent detection modules: camera-based visual monitoring, sensor-based physiological monitoring, and behavioral analysis algorithms. Each module operates independently to detect specific aspects of driver state, and their results are integrated to make overall safety assessments. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single module while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary notification mechanism between autonomous control and driver intervention. Rather than directly controlling vehicle operations, the system uses notification signals (visual, auditory, or haptic) as an intermediary to alert drivers of emergency situations, allowing the driver to naturally take control when needed without complex direct intervention mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system allows manual override during autonomous operation, then driver control is maintained, but the frequency of manual interventions increases reducing overall automation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver controlVSAvoidautomation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively notifying drivers of potential emergency situations before they fully develop. By detecting early signs of driver distress or environmental hazards and issuing advance notifications, the system prevents situations that would require manual intervention, thereby maintaining automation efficiency while preserving driver control when genuinely needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4502978B1Device for controlling mobile body, method for controlling mobile body, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4502978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4502978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4502978B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile object control device for controlling a mobile object capable of moving both on a roadway and in a predetermined region different from the roadway includes a road type recognition unit configured to recognize whether the mobile object is moving on the roadway or in the predetermined region on the basis of an output of an external environment detection device configured to detect an external situation of the mobile object and a control unit configured to limit a speed of a case where the mobile object moves on the roadway to a first speed and limit a speed of a case where the mobile object moves in the predetermined region to a second speed lower than the first speed. The road type recognition unit adds a point value to a roadway score every time each of a plurality of first events indicating that the mobile object is moving on the roadway is recognized on the basis of the output of the external environment detection device and recognizes that the mobile object is moving on the roadway when the roadway score is greater than or equal to a first threshold value.