Vehicle Alert Signaling for Anticipatory Lane Change Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle assistance systems fail to address the issue of vehicles blocking slower lanes on motorways, leading to traffic congestion and potential accidents due to vehicles refusing to switch to faster lanes, causing unsafe driving behaviors.

Innovation Solution

A method for signaling a potential modification of a driving parameter, such as changing lanes or adjusting speed, to vehicles ahead, using electromagnetic signals or telecommunications networks, allowing vehicles to anticipate and adapt their driving to avoid congestion and collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If vehicles travel on fast sub-lane without switching to slower sub-lane, then vehicles maintain higher speed, but traffic congestion occurs and blocks slower sub-lane

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle speedVSAvoidtraffic flow
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting potential lane changes in advance and transmitting signaling messages to following vehicles before the actual lane change occurs. This allows following vehicles to anticipate and prepare for the lane change, adjusting their speed or position proactively to avoid congestion and maintain smooth traffic flow on both fast and slower sub-lanes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If vehicles block fast sub-lane, then faster travel is maintained, but safety decreases due to forced merging and abrupt braking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle speedVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the first vehicle transmits signaling messages about its intended lane change, the second vehicle responds with its current state and planned actions, and the first vehicle adjusts its lane change timing based on this feedback. This cooperative feedback mechanism ensures safe lane changes without forcing abrupt braking or dangerous merging maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If existing assistance systems are used, then basic driving support is provided, but complex multi-vehicle interactions on motorways are not addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving assistanceVSAvoidcomplex situation handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal communication framework that handles multiple functions: detecting lane change intentions, transmitting signaling messages, receiving responses from following vehicles, calculating safe lane change windows, and coordinating with multiple vehicles simultaneously. This multi-functional approach enables the system to address complex motorway scenarios involving multiple vehicles on both fast and slower sub-lanes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3645375B1Method for alerting to a potential change in a driving parameter of a first vehicle, and associated terminal
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 ORANGE SA
  • EP3645375B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3645375B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3645375B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for alerting to a potential change in a driving parameter of a first vehicle travelling on a road lane, the method being implemented by an alerting system and being characterised by the following steps: determining (S400) an event on the road lane requiring the potential change in the driving parameter of the first vehicle; determining (S410) the potential change in the driving parameter of the first vehicle; transmitting (S420) the alert to the potential change to a second vehicle at a moment in time preceding the moment in time of the change in the driving parameter, the second vehicle travelling behind the first vehicle on the road lane, in the same direction of travel as the first vehicle.