Traffic Zone Vehicle Control for Anticipatory Following

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heavy traffic conditions, unpredictable stops and accelerations by leading vehicles make it difficult for trailing vehicles to anticipate safe and efficient acceleration and braking, leading to inefficient driving experiences.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a processor and memory that uses a defined vehicle communication protocol to receive messages indicating a vehicle's entry into a traffic control zone, establish communication with the vehicle, calculate vehicle control data, and generate vehicle control commands to optimize autonomous traffic navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a trailing vehicle increases speed to move as the leading vehicle is accelerating, then the trailing vehicle can maintain flow in traffic, but the leading vehicle can suddenly stop, causing the trailing vehicle to rapidly apply brakes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic flow efficiencyVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by receiving and processing messages from the leading vehicle about its acceleration and braking intentions before the trailing vehicle needs to react. This allows the trailing vehicle to anticipate and prepare for the leading vehicle's actions, smoothly mimicking its acceleration and braking patterns while maintaining safe distances, thereby avoiding sudden brake applications and improving both traffic flow efficiency and driving safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the trailing vehicle maintains a safe distance from the leading vehicle, then collision risk is reduced, but the trailing vehicle experiences unnecessary braking and acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoiddriving efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously receiving messages from the leading vehicle about its speed and acceleration patterns, then using this information to smoothly adjust the trailing vehicle's speed and acceleration. This feedback mechanism allows the trailing vehicle to maintain an optimized safe distance while efficiently following the leading vehicle's movements, reducing unnecessary braking and acceleration events

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4571706A1Controlling driving operation of one or more vehicles in a geographical area
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4571706A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4571706A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4571706A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Facilitating external control driving in a geographical area by utilizing autonomous driving controlled by external device(s) is enabled. For example, a system can comprise a memory that stores computer executable components, and a processor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory, wherein the computer executable components comprise a communication component that, using a defined vehicle communication protocol, receives a first message to indicate that a first vehicle has entered a traffic control zone and establishes communication with the first vehicle; and an autonomous driving component calculates vehicle control data and generates a vehicle control command to be communicated with the first vehicle.