Roundabout Entry Assistance Using Travel Time Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving assistance systems fail to determine whether a vehicle can enter a roundabout early enough during the approach, as they only assess the aggressiveness of other vehicles when the own vehicle reaches the roundabout.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance device that estimates the travel times of the own vehicle and other vehicles to determine whether the own vehicle can enter the roundabout by comparing the own vehicle's travel time to the travel times of other vehicles, allowing for early decision-making on entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the determination of whether other vehicles are aggressive is made when the own vehicle reaches the roundabout, then the determination can be based on actual observed behavior, but it is not possible to make a determination on whether or not to enter the roundabout early in the approach process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of whether the own vehicle can enter the roundabout during the approach phase, before reaching the roundabout. This is achieved by estimating travel times of the own vehicle and other vehicles to the roundabout entry point, and comparing these estimates to determine if entry is possible. This preliminary action allows the driver to be notified early and make informed decisions about acceleration or deceleration before arriving at the roundabout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively prevents potential collision risks by determining entry feasibility before the own vehicle reaches the roundabout. By estimating travel times and comparing them with other vehicles, the system identifies potential conflicts in advance and notifies the driver accordingly, allowing preventive action (acceleration or deceleration) to be taken before the critical decision point at the roundabout entry.
2Reliability
If the own vehicle slows down to let aggressive vehicles pass, then collision risk is reduced, but the determination must be made at the last moment when reaching the roundabout
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines whether the own vehicle can enter the roundabout during the approach phase by estimating travel times, rather than waiting until the vehicle reaches the roundabout. This preliminary determination allows the driver to be notified in advance and take appropriate action (acceleration or deceleration) before arriving at the roundabout, ensuring both safety and timely decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance device that includes an electronic control unit that is configured to execute driving assistance control when the own vehicle enters a roundabout by acquiring information on the roundabout in front of the own vehicle and determining whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout based on acquired information on the roundabout and information on the objects acquired by an object information acquisition device, and notifying a driver of a result of the determination, in which the electronic control unit is configured to estimate a travel time required for the own vehicle to reach an entry position of the roundabout, estimate another travel time required for a first other vehicle traveling in the roundabout to reach the entry position, and determine whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout based on a relationship between the travel times.