Autonomous Tire Test Track Entry Control for Banked Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle testing methods on banked sections face safety challenges due to limited visibility and the need to maintain high speeds, often restricting multiple vehicles from using the section simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A control method and system that utilizes sensors to detect the presence of other vehicles on a banked section, autonomously controlling the vehicle to avoid entering the section if another vehicle is present, ensuring safe operation and efficient use of the test track.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple vehicles are allowed to drive on the banked section simultaneously, then the productivity of the test track is improved, but the safety of vehicles is worsened due to limited visibility and high speed requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest track utilizationVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines the presence of other vehicles in the banked section before the test vehicle enters, and issues a warning or prevents entry in advance. This preliminary detection and warning mechanism allows safe multi-vehicle operation by preventing simultaneous presence of multiple vehicles in the limited-visibility section

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect vehicle presence in the banked section and provides real-time feedback to the control device, which then communicates with vehicles approaching the section. This feedback loop enables dynamic control of vehicle entry based on current section occupancy, improving both safety and track utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the vehicle maintains high speed in the banked section, then the testing effectiveness is improved, but the safety risk is worsened due to limited field of view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle speedVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device determines vehicle presence and issues warnings before the vehicle enters the banked section at high speed. This advance warning allows the driver to prepare for reduced visibility conditions, maintaining high speed testing while improving safety through proactive information provision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4420959B1Control method, control device, control system, and tire testing method
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP4420959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4420959B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4420959B1 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 adjustment section connected to an end point of the test section and a starting point of the banked section. The control method comprises an acquisition step and a control step. The acquisition step comprises 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 comprises 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. In the adjustment section, overtaking of other vehicles and overtaking by other vehicles is permitted.