Safe-to-proceed system for automated vehicle intersection entry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vehicles face challenges in safely navigating intersections due to the assumption that other vehicles will stop, especially under adverse road conditions, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A safe-to-proceed system equipped with an intersection-detector and vehicle-detector, communicating with a controller to prevent the host-vehicle from entering the intersection if the other-vehicle's stopping-distance indicates it will not stop, utilizing sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar, along with V2X communications to assess and manage the situation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the automated vehicle assumes other vehicles will stop at the intersection, then the host-vehicle can proceed more efficiently, but the risk of collision increases under adverse road conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors other vehicles' positions, speeds, and stopping distances using sensors (cameras, lidar, radar) and V2X communications, providing real-time feedback to dynamically adjust whether the host vehicle can safely proceed through the intersection
Solution Approach 2:
V2X communication systems act as intermediaries to exchange safety information between vehicles and infrastructure, enabling the host vehicle to receive advance warning about other vehicles' inability to stop without direct visual observation
2Reliability
If the host-vehicle waits for other vehicles to stop before entering the intersection, then collision risk is reduced, but traffic flow efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of other vehicles' stopping capabilities using detected parameters (speed, distance, road conditions) before the host vehicle reaches the intersection, allowing early decision-making about whether to proceed or wait
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the host vehicle's behavior based on real-time conditions, switching between proceeding and waiting modes according to the assessed safety margin of other vehicles' stopping distances
3Measurement precision
If the automated vehicle uses multiple sensors and V2X communications to accurately assess other vehicles' stopping distance, then collision prevention improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple sensors (cameras, lidar, radar) and V2X communication sources into a unified stopping-distance estimation, using sensor fusion to achieve high measurement precision while managing complexity through integrated processing
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
Effectively prevents collisions by accurately determining the stopping-distance and threat level of other vehicles, allowing the host-vehicle to wait or proceed safely, enhancing driving safety and reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar
Implementation Method 2
utilizing sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar
Implementation Method 3
utilizing sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar
Implementation Method 4
utilizing sensors like cameras, lidar, and radar
Data Source
AI summary
A safe-to-proceed system (10) for operating an automated vehicle proximate to an intersection (14) includes an intersection-detector (18), a vehicle-detector (20), and a controller (24). The intersection-detector (18) is suitable for use on a host-vehicle (12). The intersection-detector (18) is used to determine when a host-vehicle (12) is proximate to an intersection (14). The vehicle-detector (20) is also suitable for use on the host-vehicle (12). The vehicle-detector (20) is used to estimate a stopping-distance (22) of an other-vehicle (16) approaching the intersection (14). The controller (24) is in communication with the intersection-detector (18) and the vehicle-detector (20). The controller (24) is configured to prevent the host-vehicle (12) from entering the intersection (14) when the stopping-distance (22) indicates that the other-vehicle (16) will enter the intersection (14) before stopping.