Travel Controller for Lane Selection Across Non-Lane Zones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Travel controllers face challenges in determining the correct lane to follow after a non-lane zone, leading to unexpected lane changes for drivers when the number of lanes changes before and after such a zone, causing driver discomfort and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A travel controller with a processor that detects non-lane zones ahead, maintains the vehicle's position relative to the road width, and strategically changes lanes to minimize unexpected shifts by prioritizing lanes with greater overlap or distance from leading vehicles, while notifying the driver and reducing steering resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the travel controller automatically controls travel based on detected lane lines, then automation extent is improved, but when a non-lane zone is detected, the controller cannot uniquely determine the lane to travel after the zone, causing unexpected lane changes that reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The travel controller performs preliminary actions by detecting the non-lane zone in advance and calculating the expected vehicle position before entering it. By determining whether the expected position straddles a lane line and pre-calculating the appropriate lane selection, the controller resolves the lane determination issue before the vehicle actually enters the non-lane zone, preventing unexpected lane changes and maintaining reliable automatic control throughout the zone.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the travel controller maintains vehicle position relative to road width in the non-lane zone, then position stability is improved, but lane changes may still occur unexpectedly at the end of the zone, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
Before the vehicle exits the non-lane zone, the controller calculates the expected position and determines if it will straddle a lane line. If so, the controller proactively selects the appropriate lane and begins lane change preparation, ensuring the transition is smooth and predictable rather than abrupt or unexpected, thereby maintaining both position stability and driver acceptance.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors the vehicle's position and the detected lane lines, using this feedback to determine when the expected position straddles a lane line. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to adaptively adjust lane selection based on actual vehicle trajectory and road geometry, ensuring lane changes are both necessary and predictable for the driver.
3Device complexity
If the travel controller uses simple position keeping in the non-lane zone, then device complexity is reduced, but the inability to handle lane number changes increases difficulty of detecting and measuring the correct lane
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary detection and calculation of the expected vehicle position before entering the non-lane zone. By determining in advance whether the expected position will straddle a lane line and pre-selecting the appropriate lane, the controller resolves the detection difficulty before it arises, maintaining simple position-keeping algorithms while ensuring accurate lane determination through proactive analysis of road geometry and vehicle trajectory.
Data Source
AI summary
A travel controller detects a non-lane zone within a predetermined distance ahead of a current position of a vehicle. The non-lane zone lacks lanes. The travel controller controls travel of the vehicle in the non-lane zone so as to keep the position of the vehicle relative to the width of a whole road. When an expected position of the vehicle at the end of the non-lane zone straddles a lane line, the travel controller controls travel of the vehicle so as to move to a lane having a larger overlap with the vehicle, prior to control of travel of the vehicle to keep the position of the vehicle relative to the width of the whole road.