Vehicle Control Apparatus Radar Detection Failure Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control apparatuses fail to properly implement inter-vehicle distance control in adverse weather conditions due to radar devices' inability to detect the rear end of preceding vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that includes a target information acquirer, controller, and control switcher, which acquires target information from radar waves, implements inter-vehicle distance control based on detected distances, and suspends control to direct driver operation when target information becomes unacquirable, allowing automatic switching to driver control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If radar device is used to detect inter-vehicle distance, then automation and productivity are improved, but reliability deteriorates in adverse weather conditions when radar cannot detect the rear end of preceding vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary detection device to capture images of the preceding vehicle. When radar detection fails in adverse weather, the camera serves as a backup sensor to acquire target information, ensuring continuous and reliable inter-vehicle distance control without complete system failure.
2Measurement precision
If radar device transmits waves to detect target, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to wave transmission in adverse weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture optical images of the preceding vehicle as a complementary detection method. The camera creates a visual copy or representation of the target that can be processed even when radar waves fail to detect the target properly in adverse weather conditions like rain or fog.
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 proper inter-vehicle distance control by automatically switching to driver operation when radar detection fails, maintaining safety in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The radar device is configured to transmit radar waves to a front of the subject vehicle and receive reflected waves from a target present forward of the subject vehicle, and calculate an inter-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle
Implementation Method 2
reflected waves from a target that is a reflecting portion of the preceding vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a subject vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle based on reflected waves from a target that is a reflecting portion of the preceding vehicle. In the apparatus, a controller is configured to implement the inter-vehicle distance control based on an inter-vehicle distance between a rear end of the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle acquired from the detected distance. A control switcher is configured to, when target information for identifying the rear end of the preceding vehicle becomes unacquirable during implementation of the inter-vehicle distance control, suspend the inter-vehicle distance control and make a switch to the direct operation by the driver.