Vehicle Heading Stabilization for Consistent Lane Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Assisted and automatic lane changes in vehicles can cause anxiety or fear in passengers due to unpredictable vehicle heading during the change.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system with a processor-controlled steering system that receives a lane change signal, determines the vehicle's heading, and reduces it to below a threshold before executing the lane change, ensuring a consistent and comfortable transition by stabilizing the vehicle's heading relative to the road.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If assisted or automatic lane change is performed by controlling the steering system, then lane change automation is improved, but passenger comfort and psychological acceptance deteriorate due to unpredictable vehicle heading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane change automationVSAvoidpassenger anxiety and fear

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heading stabilization by detecting the vehicle's current heading angle and adjusting the steering system before the lane change execution. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle is properly oriented, preventing unpredictable heading changes during the actual lane change and thereby reducing passenger anxiety and fear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If vehicle heading is not stabilized before lane change, then lane change execution speed is improved, but lane change smoothness and predictability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane change execution speedVSAvoidvehicle heading stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects the vehicle's heading angle in advance and performs necessary steering adjustments before the lane change is executed. This preliminary heading correction ensures smooth and predictable lane change execution, resolving the contradiction between execution speed and heading stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the vehicle's heading angle using sensors and provides feedback to the steering controller. Based on this feedback, the controller makes real-time steering adjustments to maintain optimal heading stability during the lane change process, ensuring both speed and smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10518776B2Vehicle system, vehicle controller, and method of controlling vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA INC

AI summary

A vehicle includes a plurality of wheels. A vehicle steering controller controls a heading of the vehicle by controlling at least one of the plurality of wheels. A heading sensor detects the heading of the vehicle. A processor is coupled to the vehicle steering controller and the heading sensor, and the processor is programmed to receive a lane change signal that requests a lane change. Then, the processor determines the heading of the vehicle from the heading sensor. Based on this determination, the processor instructs the vehicle steering controller to reduce the heading of the vehicle to prior to executing the requested lane change. As a result, the lane change may be executed from a similar state each time.