Smart Cruise Control Using Multi-Traffic-Light Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart cruise control (SCC) systems fail to optimize vehicle speed in situations with multiple traffic lights, leading to decreased riding comfort and fuel efficiency due to inadequate consideration of long-distance stop signals.
Innovation Solution
A traffic light recognition-based SCC control apparatus and method that uses a front camera to classify traffic lights, calculate distances, recognize driving and stop signals, and adjust acceleration times to optimize vehicle speed and stop before the next traffic light using frictional force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the SCC system accelerates to target speed without considering multiple traffic lights, then the vehicle can maintain higher speed and reduce travel time, but riding comfort deteriorates and fuel efficiency is lowered due to subsequent deceleration braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recognition of multiple traffic lights and their signal states before the vehicle reaches them. By identifying the nearest traffic light with a stop signal in advance, the SCC controller calculates appropriate acceleration time to reach optimal speed before deceleration is needed, rather than accelerating without consideration and then braking abruptly.
Solution Approach 2:
The SCC system dynamically adjusts acceleration and deceleration control based on real-time traffic light recognition results. When multiple traffic lights are detected, the controller modifies the acceleration profile to account for the distance to the nearest stop signal, creating a dynamic speed control strategy that balances productivity and comfort.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the SCC system accelerates to target speed without considering multiple traffic lights, then the vehicle can maintain higher speed and improve fuel efficiency, but deceleration control after acceleration causes fuel efficiency to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recognition of multiple traffic lights and their signal states before the vehicle reaches them. By identifying the nearest traffic light with a stop signal in advance, the SCC controller calculates appropriate acceleration time to reach optimal speed before deceleration is needed, rather than accelerating without consideration and then braking abruptly.
Solution Approach 2:
The SCC controller changes the acceleration parameter (acceleration time) based on the recognized traffic light configuration. When multiple traffic lights are detected with the nearest showing stop, the system adjusts acceleration time to be more conservative, preventing excessive speed buildup that would require energy-intensive braking to correct.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple traffic lights are present in the camera image, then the system can recognize complex traffic environments, but determining which signal is intersection signal and which is crosswalk signal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multiple detected traffic lights by distance, identifying the nearest traffic light as the first target and the next nearest as the second target. This segmentation approach simplifies the complex multi-light scenario into manageable pairs, where the signal state of the nearest light determines immediate acceleration control and the second light provides additional context for velocity optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic light recognition-based smart cruise control (SCC) control apparatus and method. The apparatus includes an image-capturing unit configured to capture a front-side image of a vehicle, and a controller configured to classify at least one traffic light in the front-side image, calculate a distance to each classified traffic light, if there are a plurality of traffic lights having different distances in the front-side image, recognize a first signal of a first traffic light closest to the vehicle and a second signal of a second traffic light located next to the first traffic light, if the first signal is a driving signal and the second signal is a stop signal, calculate an acceleration time, and control the vehicle to be accelerated and traveled during the acceleration time, and then stopped before the second traffic light by using frictional force.