Vehicle Group Gap Coordination for Safe Lane Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle groups on multi-lane roads pose challenges for entering or exiting vehicles due to extended coordination, leading to safety concerns and inefficient lane changes, as existing methods either disrupt coordination or result in unnecessary braking and acceleration.

Innovation Solution

A method that dynamically adjusts the vehicle group into sub-groups only when necessary, using environmental data and V2X communication to set specific entry distances, allowing safe and efficient lane changes without permanently dissolving the coordinated group.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle convoy maintains coordinated driving with short target distances to save fuel and reduce air resistance, then energy efficiency is improved, but lane changing for entering or exiting vehicles becomes difficult and unsafe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidlane changing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the target distance adjustable rather than fixed. The lead vehicle can dynamically increase the target distance to create gaps in the convoy, enabling lane changes for entering or exiting vehicles. After the maneuver is complete, the target distance returns to its optimized short value, maintaining energy efficiency during normal coordinated driving while providing safety and operational flexibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle convoy increases the safety distance to allow easy lane changes, then ease of operation is improved, but the coordinated driving advantage of reduced air resistance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane changing capabilityVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the target distance based on operational needs. During normal coordinated driving, vehicles maintain short target distances to minimize air resistance and maximize fuel efficiency. When lane changes are required, the lead vehicle temporarily increases the target distance to create sufficient gaps, then restores the short distance afterward, thus avoiding permanent loss of aerodynamic efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the vehicle convoy is automatically dissolved at motorway entrances or exits to allow lane changes, then ease of operation is improved, but the coordinated driving coordination is disrupted and must be reconstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane changing capabilityVSAvoidcoordination reconstruction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely dissolving the convoy coordination system, the patent dynamically adjusts the target distance parameter to create gaps while maintaining the coordinated driving framework. The lead vehicle communicates adjusted target distances to following vehicles via V2X communication, allowing lane changes without full system dissolution. After the maneuver, coordination is quickly restored by returning to normal target distance values, minimizing time loss compared to complete reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle convoy maintains short target distances for fuel efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but the obstacle length for surrounding traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidobstacle length for passing traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the lead vehicle to temporarily increase the target distance, which creates gaps between vehicles in the convoy. This dynamically adjusts the overall length of the obstacle presented to passing traffic, allowing them to safely change lanes or overtake when needed, while maintaining short target distances during normal operation to preserve fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3853831B1Method for coordinating a vehicle group, evaluation unit, vehicle and vehicle group

Publication Date: 2024.01.24 ZF CV SYST EURO BV

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for coordinating a vehicle group (1) formed by a number of vehicles (2i), wherein the vehicles (2i) move at predefined target distances from one another, wherein the target distances are specified in such a way that the vehicle group (1) is divided into at least two vehicle sub-groups (1.k) at least intermittently. According to the invention, an entry criterion is checked according to environmental data, wherein the entry criterion specifies whether there is at least one vehicle (40, 41) that is ready to change lanes in the vicinity (U) of the vehicle group (1), which intends to move into a traffic lane (3) of the vehicle group (1) in the region of the vehicle group (1), wherein, if the entry criterion is fulfilled, the vehicle group (1) is divided into at least two vehicle sub-groups (1.k), whereby at least one vehicle (2i) of the vehicle group (1), which is preceded by a vehicle (2i) of the same vehicle group (1), is provided with the entry distance (d E) as the target distance in order to form the intermediate space (R).