Turn Indicator Control for Lane Changes Without Boundary Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane-change assist devices fail to turn off the turn indicator when boundary lines cannot be detected by the vehicle's camera, leading to continuous blinking on roads where additional course changes are possible.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control method and device that detects, through imaging and radar, the presence of a road enabling a second course change after a first lane change, and automatically turns off the turn indicator when such a road is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera unit photographs the area ahead of the vehicle to detect boundary lines for turning off the turn indicator, then the turn indicator can be turned off after lane change on roads with detectable boundary lines, but the turn indicator cannot be turned off on roads where boundary lines are weathered, faded, absent, or too wide for the camera to capture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection method using radar to detect roads enabling second course changes. The radar acts as a mediator when the camera cannot detect boundary lines, providing an alternative means to determine whether to turn off the turn indicator. This resolves the contradiction by adding a complementary detection system that works under conditions where the primary camera-based method fails.
2Reliability
If the turn indicator continues to blink after lane change when boundary lines cannot be detected, then the system maintains caution for potential additional course changes, but the continuous blinking causes unnecessary distraction and reduces driving safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the radar continuously monitors for roads enabling second course changes after the initial lane change. Based on this feedback information, the system dynamically decides whether to turn off the turn indicator. When no additional course change roads are detected, the feedback loop triggers the turn indicator to turn off, eliminating unnecessary blinking while maintaining safety when additional roads are present.
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous travel controller (103) detects whether a host vehicle is carrying out a first course change for changing course in the direction indicated by a turn indicator (80), and when it is detected that the host vehicle is carrying out the first course change, detects, by means of a course detection unit (104) and from an image captured by an imaging device (121) that photographs the area ahead of the host vehicle, whether there is a road that, as a road that enables a second course change for changing the course of the host vehicle, branches from a road after the first course change, and when a road that enables the second course change is detected, turns the turn indicator (80) off.