Travel Control System Using Reliability-Weighted Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional travel control systems rely on roadside devices for accurate observation information, but the varying accuracy of these devices can lead to sudden braking and abrupt steering due to errors in observation information, especially when the detection area is small or unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A travel control system that integrates observation information from multiple sources, including the host vehicle and roadside devices, using an observation information integration device to calculate reliability and transmit this information to a travel control device, which manages the travel area and controls the vehicle based on integrated data to ensure safe and practical speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If observation information from roadside devices is used to expand detection area, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to varying accuracy of roadside devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines observation information from multiple sources including host vehicle sensors and roadside observation devices into a unified detection system. This merging expands the overall detection area while maintaining reliability through integration of multiple observation entities, allowing the system to leverage the strengths of each source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates reliability values for observation information from different sources and uses this feedback to appropriately weight and integrate the data. By continuously assessing and incorporating reliability information, the system can expand detection coverage while maintaining accurate and trustworthy observation data for travel control decisions.
2Productivity
If speed is increased using integrated observation information, then productivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential errors in observation information
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and uses reliability values as feedback to dynamically adjust travel control decisions. By continuously monitoring the reliability of integrated observation information, the system can maintain higher travel speeds when reliability is high while automatically reducing speed or taking cautionary measures when reliability decreases, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The travel control system dynamically adjusts operating parameters based on the calculated reliability of observation information. Rather than using fixed speed limits, the system adapts travel speed and control aggressiveness in real-time according to the quality and reliability of available observation data, enabling both high productivity when conditions permit and high safety when uncertainties exist.
3Reliability
If reliability calculation is implemented for observation information, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal reliability calculation mechanism that works across multiple observation entities and information types. This multi-functional approach allows the same reliability assessment framework to evaluate data from host vehicle sensors, roadside devices, and other sources uniformly, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity through specialized handling for each source.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention increases detectable areas and increases vehicle speed while ensuring safety, thereby enhancing vehicle utility for drivers. The present invention is provided with: an information integration means which collects and integrates external observation information received from observation entities; a reliability calculation means which calculates the reliability of the observation information; an observation information transmission means which transmits the observation information and the calculated reliability to a travel control device via communications; an operation ascertaining means which ascertains an operation performed by an operator; a surroundings information acquisition means which acquires information about the surroundings of a host vehicle; a vehicle information acquisition means which acquires vehicle information indicating the traveling state of the host vehicle; a communication means which acquires the observation information and said reliability from an observation information integration device via communications; a travel area management means which manages areas that can be traveled by the host vehicle; and a travel control means which controls the travel of the host vehicle on the basis of said ascertained operation, the areas that can be traveled by the host vehicle, said surroundings information, the vehicle information, the observation information, and travel areas.