Autonomous Tire Test Course Control for Banked Section Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle tests on banked sections, which have limited visibility and require high speeds, often restrict multiple vehicles due to safety concerns, necessitating a solution to enhance driving safety in such conditions.

Innovation Solution

A control method and system that utilizes sensors to detect obstacles and other vehicles, adjusting vehicle positioning and speed to ensure safe entry and navigation through banked sections, preventing collisions and improving safety by allowing multiple vehicles to operate efficiently on the course.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple vehicles are allowed to drive on the banked section simultaneously, then productivity increases, but safety deteriorates due to limited visibility and high speed requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of vehicles that can be tested simultaneouslyVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines in advance whether multiple vehicles can safely occupy the banked section by calculating time intervals based on vehicle speed, section length, and safety distances. This preliminary assessment prevents unsafe configurations before they occur, enabling multiple vehicles to be tested simultaneously when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vehicle positions, speeds, and distances in real-time, comparing actual conditions against safety criteria. Based on this feedback, the control device dynamically adjusts whether multiple vehicles are permitted in the banked section, maintaining safety while maximizing testing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If vehicle speed is increased in the banked section, then testing efficiency improves, but safety deteriorates due to limited field of view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting efficiencyVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device pre-calculates safe speed ranges for the banked section based on its length, curvature, and visibility characteristics. These predetermined speed guidelines enable high-speed testing while ensuring safety constraints are met before vehicles enter the section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual vehicle speeds and compares them against safety thresholds. When speeds approach unsafe levels or when multiple vehicles are present, the control device adjusts speed recommendations to maintain safety while preserving testing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the banked section is designed with greater curvature to improve vehicle handling, then ease of operation improves, but safety deteriorates due to reduced visibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle handlingVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device pre-determines safe operating parameters for the banked section based on its geometric characteristics including curvature and visibility. These predetermined parameters enable vehicles to navigate the curved section effectively while maintaining safety distances and speeds that compensate for reduced visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4400392B1Control method, control device, control system, and tire testing method
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP4400392B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4400392B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4400392B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A control method for controlling a vehicle that has tires mounted thereon and drives autonomously on a course is disclosed. The course includes a banked section, a test section for testing the tires, and an acceleration section connected to a starting point of the test section. The control method comprises: an acquisition step and a control step. The acquisition step includes acquiring a detection result of a sensor, the sensor being mounted on the vehicle or installed along the course, that detects information about the vehicle and other vehicles on the course, and detecting a position of the vehicle and other vehicles on the course based on the detection result. The control step includes stopping the vehicle so that the vehicle does not enter the banked section when it is determined that there is another vehicle in the banked section based on the detection result of the sensor. The vehicle is controlled to accelerate in the acceleration section to a speed required for the testing in the test section, and when there is another vehicle in the test section, the vehicle is controlled so as not to come within a predetermined distance of the test section.