Vehicle Control Apparatus Group Driving Spatial Awareness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in accurately defining spatial relationships, particularly in environments with obstacles that block radar waves, leading to blind spots and reduced reliability of position information.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus that includes a display, a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving messages, and a controller to manage the display based on received messages, enabling group driving mode where vehicles can share sensor information to enhance spatial relationship accuracy and execute coordinated driving functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If radar sensors are used to detect spatial relationships, then measurement precision is improved, but blind spots are formed when obstacles block radiowaves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial relationship detection accuracyVSAvoidposition information reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensing technologies (radar, LiDAR, cameras, ultrasonic sensors) into a unified sensor system. Each sensor type compensates for the weaknesses of others, particularly addressing radar blind spots created by obstacles. The fused data from diverse sensors provides more reliable spatial relationship information than any single sensor could deliver alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless communication between vehicles as an intermediary mechanism. When direct sensor detection is blocked by obstacles, vehicles exchange spatial and positional information through communication channels, allowing the system to infer spatial relationships that cannot be directly measured due to blocked line-of-sight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are deployed to eliminate blind spots, then spatial relationship accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial relationship definition accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a multi-functional sensor system where each sensor serves multiple purposes. For example, the sensor array not only detects spatial relationships but also identifies obstacles, measures distances, and provides data for wireless communication validation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized sensors, thereby limiting complexity growth while maintaining high measurement precision.

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

3Extent of automation

If vehicles operate independently with own sensors, then measurement autonomy is maintained, but spatial relationship reliability decreases in group driving scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent detection capabilityVSAvoidspatial relationship reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles continuously exchange spatial and positional data with group members. Each vehicle's sensor measurements are validated and supplemented by feedback from other vehicles' sensors and communications. This creates a closed-loop system where independent detection capability is maintained but enhanced by continuous inter-vehicle verification, significantly improving spatial relationship reliability in group driving.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3276443B1Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle including the same
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3276443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3276443B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3276443B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus of an autonomous driving vehicle performing autonomous driving includes a display, a wireless communication unit transmitting and receiving a message to and from a certain vehicle positioned within a predetermined range, and a controller controlling the display on the basis of a message received through the wireless communication unit, wherein the controller turns on or off a group driving mode on the basis of a user input, and when the group driving mode is turned on, the controller controls the display to display a list of candidate vehicles which may be included in a group among vehicles positioned within the predetermined range.