Vehicle Control Offset Adjustment for Target Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control apparatuses face challenges in maintaining accurate inter-vehicle distance control when targets on a preceding vehicle undergo unexpected displacement, as they fail to account for changes in the relative position of multiple targets on the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus that calculates and updates an offset based on the detected distances to multiple targets on a preceding vehicle, allowing it to continue proper inter-vehicle distance control even when targets are displaced, by determining if the relative distance between targets has increased or decreased and adjusting the offset accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system uses a fixed offset between targets on the preceding vehicle, then the inter-vehicle distance control can be implemented when the rear-end target is not detected, but the control accuracy deteriorates when the targets are displaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuity of inter-vehicle distance controlVSAvoidaccuracy of inter-vehicle distance control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The offset is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously updates the offset between the forward target and rear-end target based on their relative positions, allowing the offset to adapt when targets are displaced. This dynamic adjustment maintains both the continuity and accuracy of inter-vehicle distance control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the radar detection of multiple targets to continuously monitor and update the offset between the forward target and rear-end target. When the relative position of targets changes, the feedback mechanism detects this and adjusts the offset accordingly, maintaining accurate distance control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the system follows only the rear-end target, then the control is simple to implement, but the control fails when the rear-end target is not detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of control implementationVSAvoidrobustness of target following

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forward target serves as an intermediary when the rear-end target is not detected. The system calculates the position of the rear-end target using the detected forward target and the stored offset, allowing control to continue without directly detecting the rear-end target. This maintains simplicity while improving robustness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates and stores the offset between the forward target and rear-end target during normal operation. This preliminary action enables the system to quickly estimate the rear-end target position when needed, maintaining control continuity without complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system does not update the offset, then the computational load is low, but the control accuracy deteriorates when targets are displaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputational energy consumptionVSAvoidaccuracy of target position estimation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The offset update is performed periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The system updates the offset when changes in target positions are detected, balancing computational energy consumption with the need for accurate target position estimation under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures continuous and accurate implementation of inter-vehicle distance control by accounting for unexpected target displacements, preventing unintended braking and maintaining a stable following distance.

Implementation Method 1

a radar device to transmit radar waves to the front of the subject vehicle and receive reflected waves from a target to generate target information about the target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentUS9783196B2Vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control using offset associated with target on preceding vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle. In the apparatus, an offset storage is configured to calculate an offset that is a difference between detected distances to first and second targets, and store the offset associated with the first target forward of the second target. The inter-vehicle distance control may be implemented based on a distance calculated by subtracting the offset from the detected distance to the first target. An offset updater is configured to determine whether or not a relative distance between the first and second targets has increased or decreased, and when the relative distance between the first and second targets has increased or decreased, update the offset stored by the offset storage.