Driving Assist Steering Thresholds for Turn-Aware Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving assist apparatuses fail to properly determine when to execute collision avoidance processes based on a driver's steering wheel operation, especially during turns, leading to unnecessary warnings and braking, and potential failure to initiate collision avoidance when it is needed.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes an obstacle detection system, a steering angle sensor, a collision possibility determination section, and an execution condition determination section, which assess the steering angle and adjust the process execution conditions based on whether the vehicle is making a turn, to accurately determine if the driver is attempting to avoid an obstacle through steering, thereby deciding whether to execute collision avoidance processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation amount of the steering wheel is greater than a predetermined angle threshold, the driving assist apparatus determines that the driver is operating the steering wheel so as to avoid collision with the obstacle, and does not execute the collision avoidance process. However, when the magnitude of steering angle becomes greater than the angle threshold as a result of the vehicle making a right turn or a left turn, the driving assist apparatus may fail to execute the collision avoidance process even in a situation where the collision avoidance process must be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the evaluation criteria for steering wheel operations based on the vehicle's turning state. When the vehicle is detected to be making a turn (right or left), a different determination standard is applied compared to when the vehicle is traveling straight. This allows the system to accurately distinguish between intentional steering for turning versus emergency steering for collision avoidance, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the conventional apparatus executes the warning process and automatic braking process when the driver is operating the steering wheel to avoid collision, then the driver may feel an unpleasant feeling and the vehicle may stop at a position at which the driver does not intend to stop. However, if the conventional apparatus does not execute these processes when steering operation is detected, then it cannot properly distinguish between turns and collision avoidance maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by applying different response strategies based on the vehicle's operational context. When a turn is detected, the system allows larger steering angles without triggering collision avoidance processes, thereby maintaining driver comfort and control. When the vehicle is traveling straight, the system applies stricter monitoring to ensure reliable detection of collision avoidance maneuvers. This contextual differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed angle threshold is used to determine steering wheel operation for collision avoidance, then the determination is simple. However, this fixed threshold cannot accommodate both normal turning operations and emergency collision avoidance maneuvers across different driving scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the angle threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The determination threshold for steering wheel operation varies dynamically based on the vehicle's turning state. When a turn is detected, a higher threshold is applied to accommodate normal steering operations. When traveling straight, a lower threshold is applied to detect collision avoidance maneuvers. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between device complexity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a driving assist apparatus which executes a process for collision avoidance when the possibility of collision of a vehicle with an obstacle is high. When the steering angle of the steering wheel is greater than an angle threshold, the apparatus determines that a driver is trying to avoid the collision by operating the steering wheel and does not execute the collision avoidance process. When the vehicle is making a right turn or a left turn, there arises a possibility that the collision avoidance process is not executed even in a situation where the collision avoidance process must be executed. In view of this, when the vehicle is making a right turn or a left turn, the angle threshold mentioned above is set to a larger value as compared with the case where the vehicle is not making a right turn or a left turn.