Vehicle Drive Support Device Arrow Light Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle drive support devices fail to correctly support driving in regions where a red arrow light indicates a prohibition, leading to potential unsafe maneuvers by motorists who may not recognize the signal, and not all intersections in the U.S. have red arrow lights, causing confusion.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle drive support device with an arrow light information acquisition unit that detects signals for prohibiting travel and a drive assistant operation unit that provides information or controls the vehicle based on this data, independent of motorist input, including features like travel direction detection, pedestrian detection, and accelerator pedal sensing to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the departure is determined only by the illumination state of the arrow light, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of drive support deteriorates in regions where red arrow lights indicate prohibited turns
Solution Approach 1:
The drive support device is designed to handle multiple traffic signal types (standard lights, red arrow lights, and intersections without arrow lights) using a unified system architecture. The control unit automatically adapts to different signal configurations, making the device universally applicable across various regional traffic systems without requiring separate specialized systems for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically changes its operational parameters based on the detected traffic signal type. When a red arrow light is detected, the system switches to a mode that prohibits turns in the arrow's direction. When no arrow light is present, it switches to a mode that allows turns despite red lights. This parameter switching enables reliable operation across different regions without increasing fundamental device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the drive support device does not detect arrow lights, then the ease of operation is maintained, but harmful factors increase as motorists may enter intersections against prohibited signals
Solution Approach 1:
The drive support device performs preliminary detection of arrow lights and pre-calculates the appropriate driving restrictions before the motorist reaches the intersection. The system proactively provides guidance information to the driver in advance, allowing sufficient time to understand and respond to the traffic signal requirements, thereby preventing unsafe maneuvers before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the traffic signal state and provides real-time feedback to the driver through the output unit. When a red arrow light is detected, the system immediately communicates the prohibited direction to the driver. This continuous feedback loop ensures the driver receives timely information to make safe decisions without complicating the operation.
3Reliability
If the drive support device provides comprehensive arrow light detection and control, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The arrow light detection function is merged with the existing traffic signal detection capabilities of the drive support device. The same light receiving unit and control unit that detect standard traffic signals are extended to also detect and interpret arrow light patterns. This merging approach enables comprehensive safety coverage without adding separate dedicated detection systems, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A GPS and a map information database acquire information regarding an arrow light which displays a signal for prohibiting travel in a particular direction, such as a red arrow light. A display and a loudspeaker supply information to a motorist of a host vehicle based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database, or a brake ECU and a brake actuator brake the host vehicle without depending on the manipulation by the motorist based on the information acquired by the GPS and the map information database. As a result, it is possible to correctly support driving even when a red arrow light or the like for prohibiting travel in a right turn direction.