Vehicle Drive Control Using Orthogonal Position Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle drive control systems fail to accurately predict future collisions between a vehicle and moving objects, leading to unnecessary deceleration and impaired ride comfort due to the lack of consideration for orthogonal position relations and potential route changes.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle drive control apparatus that incorporates sensors and predictive algorithms to detect moving objects and obstacles, calculate future movement paths, and adjust speed plans to prevent collisions while maintaining ride comfort by considering both distance and orthogonal position relations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If collision prediction is performed based only on distance in travelling direction, then collision detection simplicity is improved, but prediction accuracy deteriorates because orthogonal position relations are not considered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision detection simplicityVSAvoidprediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends collision prediction from one-dimensional distance measurement to two-dimensional spatial analysis by incorporating orthogonal position relations. The system calculates both the distance in the travelling direction and the orthogonal distance, then determines collision risk based on the combination of both dimensions, significantly improving prediction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the vehicle decelerates when objects are detected, then safety is improved, but ride comfort deteriorates due to unnecessary deceleration when objects are far away

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidride comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the deceleration decision based on multiple parameters including distance in travelling direction, orthogonal distance, and predicted future position. By evaluating the combination of these parameters, the system determines whether deceleration is truly necessary, avoiding unnecessary speed reductions while maintaining safety when actual collision risk exists.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary collision prediction by calculating future positions of both the vehicle and detected objects before making deceleration decisions. This advance prediction allows the system to distinguish between objects that will actually collide with the vehicle and those that won't, enabling safety decisions based on accurate future state assessment rather than current position alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If frequent acceleration and deceleration is performed, then collision avoidance is improved, but riding comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidriding comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous feedback by repeatedly detecting object positions, recalculating future collision risk, and adjusting speed plans accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that acceleration and deceleration commands are issued only when actual collision risk changes, avoiding unnecessary speed adjustments while maintaining effective collision avoidance when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3127770B1Vehicle drive control apparatus and speed control method
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 HITACHI LTD
  • EP3127770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3127770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3127770B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A vehicle drive control apparatus (1) includes: an object detection unit (31; 33) which detects positions, speeds, and sizes of objects around an own vehicle; and a speed control unit (32) which detects a moving object existing in a place adjacent to a scheduled travelling path of the own vehicle and a speed change induction obstacle inducing a future speed vector change of the moving object from the objects detected by the object detection unit (31; 33) and changes a speed of the own vehicle, on the basis of a relative position relation of the own vehicle and the detected moving object and the speed change induction obstacle.