Following Control Display for Traffic Light Gap Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assistance apparatuses do not effectively provide useful driving assistance information to drivers of vehicles equipped with the function of following a preceding vehicle while maintaining a predetermined inter-vehicle distance, especially when approaching traffic lights.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus that includes a display part and an electronic control unit with a microprocessor and memory, which controls the vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle while maintaining a target inter-vehicle distance, acquires traffic light information, and notifies the driver of recommended inter-vehicle distances to avoid stopping at traffic lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle maintains a predetermined inter-vehicle distance using following function, then the safety distance is ensured, but the driver cannot receive useful driving assistance information when approaching traffic lights
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the following function and traffic light notification function into separate processing modules. The following control maintains predetermined safety distance while the traffic light notification module independently calculates and displays recommended inter-vehicle distances for passing through intersections without stopping, allowing both functions to operate simultaneously without conflict
Solution Approach 2:
The driving assistance apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single system: it performs both the following function (maintaining safety distance from preceding vehicle) and the traffic light notification function (providing recommended inter-vehicle distance information). This multi-functional system ensures that drivers receive comprehensive assistance information without compromising safety distance maintenance
2Reliability
If the driver maintains a large inter-vehicle distance for safety, then collision risk is reduced, but the vehicle may stop at traffic lights even when it could pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the recommended inter-vehicle distance required to pass through the traffic light without stopping, and displays this information to the driver in advance. This allows the driver to adjust the inter-vehicle distance proactively before reaching the intersection, avoiding unnecessary stops while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the recommended inter-vehicle distance based on real-time conditions including traffic light status, vehicle speed, and distance to the intersection. The display unit provides updated recommendations as the vehicle approaches the traffic light, allowing the driver to optimize the inter-vehicle distance for both safety and efficient traffic flow
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance apparatus including a display part and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to perform controlling a travel actuator so that a subject vehicle follows a preceding vehicle while keeping a target inter-vehicle distance, acquiring traffic light information including switching information on a traffic light, position information of the subject vehicle with respect to the traffic light, and inter-vehicle distance information on an inter-vehicle distance from the subject vehicle to the preceding vehicle, and controlling the display part so as to notify the driver of information during following the preceding vehicle based on the traffic light information, the position information and the inter-vehicle distance information, and the controlling including controlling the display part so as to notify information on a recommended inter-vehicle distance allowing the subject vehicle to travel while following the preceding vehicle without receiving a stop instruction from the traffic light.