Vehicle Control Device Dynamic Lane Determination Width

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in distinguishing between lanes when a preceding vehicle is far away, leading to delayed recognition and uncomfortable rapid deceleration when catching up to a traffic congestion tail, as they struggle to determine whether the vehicle is on the own lane or adjacent lane, resulting in potential collisions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that variably sets the determination width for the own lane based on relative speed and angle corrections, allowing for decelerating assist control even when lane distinction is difficult, by expanding the determination width as the relative speed increases and adjusting coefficients based on the angle between the object and lane center line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a narrow determination width for own lane is used, then false recognition of adjacent lane vehicles as own lane vehicles is prevented, but recognition of true own lane vehicles is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of lane distinctionVSAvoidtime to recognize own lane vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The determination width for own lane is dynamically adjusted based on the relative speed between the subject vehicle and the nearest non-fixed object. When relative speed exceeds a threshold, the determination width is expanded from a narrow first value to a broader second value, enabling timely recognition of own lane vehicles while maintaining accurate lane distinction under normal conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a broad determination width for own lane is used, then own lane vehicle recognition is achieved earlier, but false recognition of adjacent lane vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of vehicle recognitionVSAvoidaccuracy of lane distinction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The determination width is dynamically adjusted based on relative speed conditions. Under normal conditions (relative speed below threshold), a narrow determination width maintains accurate lane distinction. When relative speed exceeds the threshold, the determination width expands to enable earlier recognition of own lane vehicles, resolving the contradiction between recognition speed and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If determination width is fixed, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different driving scenarios is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control systemVSAvoidadaptability to traffic conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic adjustment of determination width based on relative speed to adapt to different driving scenarios. The control unit automatically switches between narrow and broad determination widths according to whether relative speed exceeds a threshold, providing scenario-adaptive performance without requiring complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The determination width parameter is changed based on relative speed conditions. The system transitions between two discrete parameter values (first narrow width and second broad width) depending on the relative speed threshold, enabling adaptability to different traffic scenarios while maintaining relatively simple system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3486132B1Vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3486132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3486132B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3486132B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

If the sign of the relative speed of the non-fixed object is negative, the determination width for own lane is expanded in the lane-width direction. According to the expanded determination width for own lane, both the preceding vehicle on the adjacent lane and the preceding vehicle on the own lane are recognized as existing on the own lane. Therefore, if it is determined that the risk to collide with the preceding vehicle on the adjacent lane is high, the decelerating assist control is executed to prevent collision with this preceding vehicle. Also, if it is determined that the risk to collide with the preceding vehicle on the own lane is high, the decelerating assist control for preventing collision with this preceding vehicle is executed.