Vehicle Control System Zone-Based Braking for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomously controlled vehicles face challenges in avoiding collisions with unknown stationary or dynamic obstacles, as their positions may not be accounted for in trajectory planning, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that includes a zone control system, collision prediction system, and braking control system, which defines zones based on real-time vehicle conditions and uses electric retarding and service brakes to maintain distance margins, prioritizing electric retarders and re-planning trajectories to avoid obstacles, both stationary and dynamic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a predefined trajectory is used for autonomous vehicle control, then the vehicle can move from start to end position efficiently, but the vehicle cannot account for unknown stationary obstacles or dynamic obstacles that change position
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary obstacle detection and collision prediction before the vehicle reaches the obstacle zone. By predicting potential collisions in advance and calculating required braking distances, the system prepares avoidance maneuvers beforehand, allowing the vehicle to maintain efficiency while ensuring safety through pre-planned responses to detected obstacles.
2Reliability
If the vehicle brakes aggressively to avoid collisions, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the vehicle operation becomes less smooth and may cause unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different braking strategies based on the specific situation and obstacle characteristics. For distant obstacles or low-speed scenarios, gentle braking is applied to maintain smooth operation. For close obstacles or high-speed scenarios, aggressive braking is used to ensure collision avoidance. This localized adaptation of braking intensity resolves the contradiction between safety and operational smoothness.
3Reliability
If the vehicle maintains large distance margins from obstacles, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the vehicle productivity decreases due to reduced speed and increased stopping distance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the safety distance margin based on real-time conditions including vehicle speed, obstacle type (stationary or dynamic), road adhesion, and gradient. At higher speeds or with dynamic obstacles, larger margins are maintained for safety. At lower speeds or with stationary obstacles, the system reduces margins to maintain productivity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety margins and movement efficiency.
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
Enhances collision avoidance capabilities by enabling proactive and reactive measures to maintain safe distances and prevent collisions, even with obstacles not initially accounted for in trajectory planning.
Implementation Method 1
a combination of electric retarding and service brake augmentation is used to maintain prescribed distance margins
Implementation Method 2
service brake augmentation is used to maintain prescribed distance margins
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for autonomously controlling a vehicle performed by a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system comprising a zone control system, a collision prediction system and a braking control system, the method comprising the steps of:defining in the zone control system at least a first zone and a second zone relative to a vehicle position,predicting a collision with an obstacle with the prediction system,autonomously braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a first braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the first zone and braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a second braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the second zone.