Vehicle Control Device for Dynamic Inter-Vehicle Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to maintain safe inter-vehicle spacing when the preceding vehicle decelerates rapidly, leading to potential contact and traffic congestion issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that calculates target inter-vehicle spacing based on information from both the preceding and trailing vehicles, dynamically adjusting speed to maintain a preset spacing, thereby preventing sudden approaches and ensuring smooth, safe travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle maintains a preset inter-vehicle spacing with the preceding vehicle, then the safety distance is ensured, but the responsiveness to rapid deceleration of the preceding vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the target inter-vehicle spacing parameter dynamically based on the deceleration state of the preceding vehicle. When the preceding vehicle decelerates rapidly, the system reduces the target spacing to enable faster response. When the preceding vehicle maintains steady speed, the system maintains the preset spacing for safety. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between safety maintenance and responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary correction to the target inter-vehicle spacing before the actual deceleration occurs. By detecting the deceleration state of the preceding vehicle in advance, the system proactively adjusts the target spacing to prepare for the upcoming speed change, enabling smoother and more responsive deceleration while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If the target inter-vehicle spacing is adjusted based on trailing vehicle information, then the trailing vehicle safety is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing target inter-vehicle spacing calculation unit perform multiple functions: it calculates spacing based on the preceding vehicle alone, and also calculates spacing considering the trailing vehicle when necessary. By making this existing unit multi-functional rather than adding a separate complex system, the patent improves trailing vehicle safety while minimizing the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation approach where the target inter-vehicle spacing is computed as a function of both preceding and trailing vehicle positions. This intermediary calculation layer integrates information from both directions without requiring fundamentally new hardware or complex control logic, thus improving safety with minimal complexity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device controls a vehicle on the basis of inter-vehicle spacing information with respect to a preceding vehicle and a trailing vehicle. The vehicle control device is equipped with: a target inter-vehicle spacing calculation unit which calculates target inter-vehicle spacing information on the basis of inter-vehicle spacing information with respect to the preceding vehicle and inter-vehicle spacing information with respect to a trailing vehicle. The vehicle control device is configured to control the speed of the vehicle such that the calculated target inter-vehicle spacing information is maintained.