Variable Blinker Timing for Lane Change Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
During automatic vehicle driving, existing systems fail to reliably communicate the intention of lane changes to surrounding vehicles, especially in congested lanes, leading to potential misunderstandings and reduced success rates of lane change operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that includes an information acquisition device to gather driving environment information, which adjusts the blinker's lighting operation timing based on the presence of surrounding vehicles in the destination lane, setting the timing earlier than default values when necessary to ensure the intention of lane change is conveyed effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blinker lighting operation is synchronized with lane change control execution, then the control system is simple and synchronized operation is achieved, but the intention of lane change is not sufficiently conveyed to surrounding vehicles in congested lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by setting the blinker to light up before the lane change control is executed. The lighting operation starts at a timing earlier than the actual lane change execution, allowing surrounding vehicles to notice the intention in advance. This preliminary lighting action resolves the contradiction by improving communication reliability without requiring complex real-time coordination systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the blinker lighting operation duration variable rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the lighting period dynamically based on whether the lane change is completed successfully or cancelled. If cancelled, the lighting continues for an extended period to communicate the change of intention, resolving the contradiction by adapting the communication duration to actual outcomes.
2Reliability
If the blinker lighting operation period is extended to convey intention to surrounding vehicles, then communication reliability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses preliminary action by starting the blinker lighting before lane change execution, which allows for a more efficient timing strategy. The lighting begins early when energy consumption is less critical, and the system can leverage this head start to achieve reliable communication with shorter total duration compared to starting later with extended runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the completion status of lane change control and adjusting the blinker lighting duration accordingly. When lane change is completed, lighting stops at a default timing; when cancelled, lighting extends to communicate the cancellation. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable communication only when necessary, optimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary extended lighting periods.
3Reliability
If the blinker lighting operation starts earlier than default to appeal to surrounding vehicles, then lane change success rate improves, but the lighting operation duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by setting the blinker to light up before the lane change control is executed. The lighting operation starts at a timing earlier than the actual lane change execution, allowing surrounding vehicles to notice the intention in advance. This preliminary lighting action resolves the contradiction by improving communication reliability without requiring complex real-time coordination systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the blinker lighting operation duration variable rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the lighting period dynamically based on whether the lane change is completed successfully or cancelled. If cancelled, the lighting continues for an extended period to communicate the change of intention, resolving the contradiction by adapting the communication duration to actual outcomes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle control system (100) comprising a travel control device (60, 70) configured to execute an automatic driving including a lane change operation, and a blinker control device (80) configured to discriminate an intention for change lane and to set a period of the lighting operation variably based on a discrimination result.