Vehicle Control Device for Automated Driving Transition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers may respond to takeover requests with reflex actions before being fully prepared, leading to potential difficulties in smoothly transitioning from automated driving to manual driving, especially in challenging environments like adverse weather conditions where sensor detection is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that includes a travel environment acquisition unit and a vehicle control unit to adapt the vehicle's state based on the acquired environment, performing state changing controls such as adjusting inter-vehicle distance, speed, and lane changes to facilitate a smooth transition to manual driving, and includes an influence determination unit to assess the environmental impact on the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated driving is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates when transition to manual driving occurs under adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control device performs preliminary actions by adjusting vehicle parameters (speed, inter-vehicle distance, acceleration) before the driver takes over control. This preparation ensures the vehicle is in a safer state when the driver assumes control, particularly in adverse weather conditions where detection is difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions potential risks by modifying vehicle behavior in advance of the takeover event. It reduces speed, increases following distance, and limits acceleration rates before manual driving begins, creating a safety buffer that compensates for the driver's potential lack of preparation time.
2Loss of time
If the driver responds to takeover request by reflex action, then response time is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates because the driver is not fully prepared
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary adjustments to vehicle parameters before the driver completes the takeover. By the time the driver fully assumes control, the vehicle is already in a safer operational state with reduced speed and increased following distance, making the transition smoother despite the driver's reflex-based response.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle control system serves itself by automatically adjusting its own parameters in response to the takeover request. It monitors the driver's response and independently modifies speed, distance, and acceleration parameters without requiring additional driver input, ensuring safe transition conditions are met.
3Reliability
If state changing control is performed to adapt vehicle state, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control device integrates multiple functions into a single control system. It simultaneously manages automated driving operations, monitors driver status, detects takeover requests, and adjusts vehicle parameters, making the system versatile while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves improved reliability through parameter changes rather than structural modifications. By dynamically adjusting speed, inter-vehicle distance, and acceleration parameters based on driving conditions and takeover status, the system enhances safety without adding complex mechanical components.
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle control device according to the present invention is a device that automatically controls the travel of a vehicle at least partially, the vehicle control device comprising: a traveling environment acquisition unit that acquires a traveling environment of the vehicle when the travel control is performed; and a vehicle control unit that performs state change control to change a state of the vehicle on the basis of the traveling environment acquired by the traveling environment acquisition unit, when the travel control is transitioned from automatic to manual or when such a transition is predicted.