Towing-Aware Lane Change Timing for Autonomous Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems that prohibit lane changes when towing another vehicle can cause inconvenience and increase pressure on surrounding vehicles due to the larger volume and slower motion of the towing vehicle during lane changes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller that detects when a host vehicle is towing a towed vehicle and adjusts the start timing of lane changes earlier than when not towing, taking into account congestion and weather conditions, to facilitate smoother lane changes and reduce pressure on nearby vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lane change control is prohibited when towing a towed vehicle, then safety is improved by preventing potential collisions, but convenience deteriorates as drivers cannot make necessary lane changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the lane change start timing parameter based on the towing state. When towing is detected, the start timing is set earlier than the standard timing, allowing lane changes to be executed with sufficient advance notice to surrounding vehicles while still enabling necessary lane changes that were previously prohibited
Solution Approach 2:
The lane change control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the detected towing state. The control parameters are not fixed but adapt according to whether the vehicle is towing another vehicle, enabling the system to provide both safety and convenience under different operating conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lane change start timing is set earlier when towing, then pressure on surrounding vehicles is reduced by providing advance notice, but the lane change maneuver takes longer to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by setting the lane change start timing earlier when towing is detected. This advance notice to surrounding vehicles reduces pressure and potential conflicts, while the system manages the extended duration through proper timing calculation and execution
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle controller includes a processor configured to detect that a host vehicle is towing a towed vehicle, detect a host vehicle lane being traveled by the host vehicle, determine whether the host vehicle is required to make a lane change to a target lane different from the host vehicle lane, and control the host vehicle to make a lane change from the host vehicle lane to the target lane, when the lane change is required. The processor sets start timing of the lane change earlier when towing of a towed vehicle by the host vehicle is detected than when towing of a towed vehicle by the host vehicle is not detected.