Vehicle Control Determining Points for Priority Road Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems struggle to flexibly determine driving actions in dynamic situations, particularly when a host vehicle enters a road with priority traffic, as they fail to adapt to changes in the travel situation, leading to inappropriate actions such as entering or stopping at inappropriate positions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a controller to set multiple control determining points along a host vehicle's travel route, allowing for flexible determination of running or stopping based on real-time travel situation information, including the presence of other vehicles or pedestrians, by densely setting control points in critical areas like intersections and cross-points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single control determination is made at the intersection, then the control logic is simple, but the system cannot flexibly respond to situation changes occurring before or after the intersection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidflexibility to situation changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the road into multiple sections with different control determination points (first control determination point before intersection, second control determination point at intersection, third control determination point after intersection). This segmentation allows independent control decisions at each point, enabling flexible response to situation changes while maintaining manageable control logic at each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control determination points are dynamically adjusted based on the host vehicle's travel situation. When the situation changes (e.g., other vehicle speed changes, pedestrian appearance), the system can change control determinations at different points independently, making the overall control system dynamic and adaptable rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If control determination points are set densely in all areas, then the system can respond flexibly to all situation changes, but the calculation load and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse flexibility to situation changesVSAvoidnumber of control determination points
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different control determination densities to different road sections based on local requirements. Dense control determination points are placed in critical areas like intersections and cross-points where situation changes are most likely to occur, while sparser points are used in less critical areas. This local differentiation achieves flexible response where needed without unnecessary complexity elsewhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the host vehicle enters a road with priority traffic, then the vehicle can proceed efficiently, but safety risks increase due to potential conflicts with priority vehicles or pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel efficiencyVSAvoidsafety in priority road entry
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary control determination at the first control determination point before the host vehicle enters the priority road. This advance decision-making allows the vehicle to prepare for potential conflicts with priority traffic or pedestrians before actually entering the dangerous zone, balancing efficiency (by planning ahead) with safety (by evaluating risks before commitment).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors travel situation information and adjusts control determinations at different points based on real-time feedback. When priority vehicles or pedestrians are detected, the system can change control decisions (e.g., from proceed to stop) at appropriate control determination points, ensuring safety while maintaining efficiency when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4016497B1Vehicle behavior determination method and vehicle behavior determination device
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4016497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4016497B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4016497B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for determining a vehicle action, applicable to a travel control device, includes: by a controller that acquires travel situation information of a road on which a host vehicle travels by a sensor and determine a driving action from the travel situation information detected, setting at least one control determining point on a first route on which the host vehicle travels while traveling on the first route, the control determining point determining whether to run or stop the host vehicle by using the travel situation information; and determining whether to run or stop the host vehicle at the control determining point before the host vehicle reaches the control determining point. Further, the controller determines, based on the travel situation information, whether or not the host vehicle enters a road on which another vehicle or a pedestrian travels or walks with priority over the host vehicle on the first route on which the host vehicle travels; and in a case where it is determined that the host vehicle enters the road on which the other vehicle or the pedestrian travels or walks with priority over the host vehicle, sets the control determining points more densely than in other cases.