Vehicle Correction Angle Learning Under Road Condition Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining a vehicle's correction angle for straight-line tracking are inaccurate due to environmental conditions deviating from ideal conditions, such as potholes or cambered road surfaces, leading to incorrect averaging of steering angles.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that learn the correction angle based on vehicle and environment parameters, only allowing learning when specific criteria are met, such as a level, dry, and pothole-free road surface, and evaluate parameters like road type, traffic conditions, and vehicle dynamics to ensure accurate determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the correction angle is calculated as the most frequently used steering angle on average, then the determination process is simple, but environmental conditions like potholes or cambered road surfaces lead to inaccurate correction angle determination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination process complexityVSAvoidcorrection angle accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for correction angle determination by evaluating multiple environmental parameters (road surface condition, weather conditions, traffic situation, vehicle speed) and only using steering angle data when these parameters indicate favorable conditions. This resolves the contradiction by making the determination process more complex in terms of parameter evaluation but significantly improving the accuracy of the correction angle by excluding data from unfavorable conditions like potholes or cambered roads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If learning is performed continuously to adapt to different driving conditions, then the system is highly adaptive, but environmental deviations lead to incorrect learning and inaccurate correction angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptability to driving conditionsVSAvoidlearning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic learning approach where the system adaptively adjusts its learning behavior based on environmental conditions. Learning is enabled only when environmental parameters indicate favorable conditions (level road, dry surface, no potholes, appropriate weather and traffic). This dynamic enablement/disabling of learning resolves the contradiction by maintaining high adaptability to genuine driving condition changes while preventing incorrect learning from environmental deviations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from environmental parameter evaluations to control the learning process. By continuously monitoring road surface conditions, weather, traffic situation, and vehicle speed, the system receives feedback about whether current conditions are suitable for learning. This feedback mechanism ensures that learning only occurs when reliable data can be obtained, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4168290B1Method and device for determining a correction angle for correcting the straight-ahead travel of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4168290B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4168290B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device and a method for determining a correction angle (KW) for correcting the straight-ahead travel of a vehicle (1), wherein a learning process (S3) of the correction angle (KW) is carried out as a function of at least one intrinsic vehicle variable (FE), wherein at least one vehicle environment variable (FU) is determined and at least one criterium specific to an environment variable is evaluated, wherein the learning process (S3) is carried out only if the at least one criterion specific to an environment variable is fulfilled.