Autonomous Vehicle Crossing Control for Oncoming Passing Space
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems face challenges in allowing oncoming vehicles to safely pass between the own vehicle and a preceding vehicle, especially when the own vehicle is following or traveling at a constant speed, leading to potential traffic jams and missed warnings due to limited space and driver distraction.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that determines the presence of crossing vehicles and switches between following, constant-speed, and crossing modes to ensure a predetermined safe space for oncoming vehicles to pass, utilizing sensors for object detection and autonomous driving control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the own vehicle maintains a constant speed or follows the preceding vehicle, then the vehicle can maintain stable travel, but there is insufficient space for oncoming vehicles to pass safely
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control apparatus dynamically switches between following traveling mode and crossing mode based on the presence and position of oncoming vehicles. When an oncoming vehicle is detected in the passing space, the system transitions from maintaining constant speed/following to executing crossing mode, which includes decelerating and moving forward to create sufficient passage space, thereby dynamically adapting the vehicle behavior to ensure safe passage
2Loss of information
If the headlight flashes to warn oncoming vehicles, then permission to pass can be communicated, but drivers may be distracted and warnings may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional optical warning method (headlight flashing) with an autonomous mechanical action (vehicle movement). Instead of relying on drivers to notice and interpret visual signals, the system directly creates the passing opportunity by autonomously controlling the vehicle to decelerate and move forward, physically making space for the oncoming vehicle to pass safely
3Reliability
If the own vehicle moves forward to create space, then oncoming vehicles can pass safely, but the vehicle must switch modes and adjust speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the surrounding environment using detection devices to identify oncoming vehicles and assess whether sufficient passing space exists. Based on this feedback, the control execution device automatically switches between following traveling mode and crossing mode, and adjusts vehicle speed accordingly. The mode switching is triggered by specific conditions (detection of oncoming vehicles in passing space) and terminates when the passing maneuver is complete, creating a closed-loop control system
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicle control apparatus, an entry determiner determines, while one of the following traveling mode and the constant-speed traveling mode is performed by the vehicle control apparatus, whether an entry condition is satisfied in response to determination that there is at least one other crossing vehicle. The entry condition enables the at least one other crossing vehicle to cross in front of the own vehicle to thereafter enter the enterable space without colliding with the own vehicle. An autonomous driving controller switches, upon the entry condition being determined to be satisfied, the performed one of the following traveling mode and the constant-speed traveling mode to a crossing mode that controls traveling of the own vehicle to ensure a predetermined space in front of the own vehicle. The predetermined space enables the at least one other crossing vehicle to cross in front of the own vehicle.