Autonomous Toll Lane Selection via Onboard Sensor Cost Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for selecting a lane at a toll-collection area require wireless communication between vehicles and toll-collection areas, which is unreliable and costly, and do not consider the distance and congestion effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method where a vehicle detects lanes, computes a cost function based on distance and congestion using onboard sensors, and determines if it can safely change lanes to reach the preferred lane without relying on communication with the toll-collection area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication means are equipped in vehicles and toll-collection areas, then lane selection data can be received from the toll-collection area, but the system becomes costly and communication reliability cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lane selection functionality from the toll-collection area infrastructure and relocates it to the vehicle's onboard system. The vehicle independently detects lanes, counts third-party vehicles, computes cost functions, and determines preferred lanes without requiring communication with the toll-collection area, thereby eliminating the need for expensive and unreliable wireless communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle performs lane selection autonomously using its own onboard equipment. The system self-detects lane information, self-counts vehicles in each lane using sensors, self-computes cost functions based on distance and congestion, and self-determines the preferred lane without external assistance or communication infrastructure.
2Loss of information
If the vehicle considers the number of third-party vehicles in each lane, then congestion is accounted for, but the vehicle must communicate with the toll-collection area to obtain this information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the wireless communication system with an onboard sensor system (camera, LIDAR, radar) that physically detects and counts third-party vehicles in each lane. This mechanical/optical detection method substitutes the unreliable communication-based information exchange, allowing the vehicle to independently acquire real-time congestion data without communication infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle computes cost function based on distance and vehicle count, then lane selection becomes more accurate, but the computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent computes a cost function that combines multiple parameters (distance to lane, number of third-party vehicles, and their weights) to precisely evaluate each lane's suitability. By formulating a mathematical cost function Jij = dij·ζij + nj·γj, the system achieves accurate lane selection through systematic parameter integration and optimization, balancing precision with computational efficiency.
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
This method allows vehicles to reliably and safely choose lanes at toll-collection areas using only their own equipment, considering distance and congestion, ensuring efficient and safe passage without the need for expensive communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
the motor vehicle being equipped with at least one range-finding sensor, in step b), the second datum is an estimation of the number of third-party vehicles located in each of said lanes, which is determined depending on the measurements carried out by said range-finding sensor
Implementation Method 2
the motor vehicle being equipped with an image-acquiring means and a computing unit, in step a), the image-acquiring means acquires an image of the toll-collection area and the computing unit processes said image in order to detect the open lanes of the toll-collection area
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a motor vehicle to select a preferred traffic lane to access a toll area having a plurality of traffic lanes includes the following: a) detecting traffic lanes of the toll area, b) determining, for at least some of the traffic lanes, a first item of data relating to the distance between the motor vehicle and the corresponding traffic lane, and a second item of data relating to the number of other vehicles situated on the corresponding traffic lane, c) minimizing a cost function that depends on each first item of data and on each second item of data, so as to identify the preferred traffic lane, and d) determining the possibility or the risk for the motor vehicle of changing traffic lane in order to move towards the preferred traffic lane.