Touch Panel Speed Control for Driverless Automatic Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic driving vehicles without a driver's seat, brake pedal, acceleration pedal, or steering wheel face challenges in allowing operators to issue multiple instructions for deceleration and acceleration control while in automatic driving mode, as existing systems only provide emergency stop buttons and lack the necessary control options.

Innovation Solution

An automatic driving control system that utilizes a touch panel to execute deceleration and acceleration controls through long and short presses on a single button, allowing operators to select from different control modes based on the duration of the operation, enabling more precise control over vehicle speed and mode transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If only emergency stop buttons are provided in automatic driving vehicles, then the system structure remains simple, but the operator cannot issue multiple instructions for deceleration and acceleration control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol optionsVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single button on the touch panel serves multiple functions by responding to different operation durations. The same button can initiate first deceleration control when pressed for a longer duration (e.g., 1 second or more) and second deceleration control when pressed for a shorter duration (e.g., less than 1 second), eliminating the need for separate buttons for different control modes while providing versatile operator control options

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system distinguishes between different control modes by detecting the duration parameter of the button press operation. By monitoring how long the operator holds the button, the system determines whether to execute first deceleration control (long press) or second deceleration control (short press), thereby providing multiple control aspects without adding physical complexity to the interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple buttons are provided for different deceleration controls, then the operator can issue multiple instructions, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol instructionsVSAvoidnumber of buttons
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel button is designed to perform multiple control functions based on the operation characteristics rather than requiring separate physical buttons. The single button can execute first deceleration control, second deceleration control, and potentially other control modes by detecting different press durations, thereby reducing the number of physical components while maintaining versatile control capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to the button operation by considering the duration of the press. This transforms a simple spatial button interface into a multi-dimensional control mechanism where the time aspect (how long the button is held) provides additional control nuance without requiring additional spatial elements or buttons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If deceleration control is executed immediately after operation completion, then the response is fast, but the operator cannot control the deceleration timing and speed profile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcontrol precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control over deceleration characteristics by offering multiple deceleration modes that can be selected through different button press durations. The first deceleration control and second deceleration control provide different deceleration profiles and timing characteristics, allowing the operator to adapt the control behavior to the specific traffic situation while maintaining responsive execution once the mode is selected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3800103B1Automatic driving control system
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3800103B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3800103B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3800103B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A touch panel (28) of an automatic driving vehicle (10) includes a SLOW DOWN button (80). An operator is able to operate the SLOW DOWN button (80) while the vehicle is running in the automatic driving mode to apply different deceleration controls using a first operation, or a long press, and a second operation, or a short press. For example, when a long press is applied, the automatic driving vehicle (10) completes deceleration at time t4, or a time immediately after time t3 at which the long press operation is completed. In contrast, when a short press is applied, the automatic driving vehicle (10) completes deceleration after the elapse of a relatively long period after completion of the short press.