Collision Warning Timing Based on Vehicle Trajectory Deviation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collision warning systems for motor vehicles often issue unnecessary warnings, reducing driver attention and acceptance due to false alerts, especially when detecting objects outside the intended trajectory or in adjacent lanes.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the actual and target trajectories of a vehicle using sensor data and computing devices, issuing warnings only when the actual trajectory deviates from the target trajectory and a collision is likely, with the option to adjust the minimum driver reaction time based on the deviation and object location, thereby preventing unnecessary warnings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If collision warning systems issue warnings for all detected objects, then collision detection coverage is improved, but false alert rate increases and driver attention decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision detection coverageVSAvoidfalse alert rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different warning criteria to objects in different spatial locations. Objects on the actual trajectory trigger warnings, while objects in adjacent lanes or off-trajectory do not. This localized differentiation reduces false alerts while maintaining coverage for critical collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The actual trajectory serves as an intermediary criterion that mediates between detecting all objects and avoiding false alerts. By using trajectory deviation as the filtering mechanism, the system selectively warns only about objects that pose genuine collision risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If warning thresholds are lowered to increase sensitivity, then collision detection accuracy is improved, but unnecessary warnings increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of warnings issued
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different detection sensitivity levels based on object location. High sensitivity is applied to objects on the actual trajectory, while lower sensitivity or no warning is applied to objects in adjacent lanes, optimizing the balance between detection accuracy and warning quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The detection space is segmented into different zones: objects on the actual trajectory and objects off-trajectory. Each zone has different warning thresholds, with stricter criteria for on-trajectory objects and more lenient or no criteria for off-trajectory objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If driver reaction time is reduced to enable earlier warnings, then collision prevention capability is improved, but false warnings from misinterpreting normal maneuvers increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver reaction timeVSAvoidfalse warning rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the avoidance point in advance based on vehicle dynamics and object position. By determining whether the object is beyond the avoidance point before issuing a warning, the system can provide earlier warnings for genuine risks while filtering out normal driving maneuvers that would trigger false alerts with reduced reaction times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The warning system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the calculated avoidance point and current vehicle state. The effective reaction time threshold is adapted according to whether the object lies beyond the dynamically computed avoidance point, allowing flexible response to varying driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3803830B1Method for warning a motor vehicle driver of a collision
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3803830B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3803830B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle (2) of a collision, in which method an actual trajectory (1) of the motor vehicle (2) is determined by means of a sensor device, a target trajectory (3) of the motor vehicle (2) is determined by means of a computing device, and a deviation of the actual trajectory (1) from the target trajectory (3) is determined by means of the computing device. Furthermore, in the method, a future collision event (8) on the actual trajectory (1) is determined by means of the computing device. By means of an output device, a warning is output in the interior of the motor vehicle (2) depending on the determined future collision event (8) and the determined deviation. Furthermore, an evasion point (9) on the actual trajectory (1) at which the driver should begin an evasive maneuver at the latest can be determined by means of the computing device. A warning can be output in the interior of the motor vehicle (2) from a defined minimum driver reaction time before reaching the evasion point (9), wherein the driver of the motor vehicle (2) should be warned of the collision event (8) by means of the warning such that the driver begins the evasive maneuver no later than at the determined evasion point (9).