Automated Vehicle Intersection Entry Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vehicles struggle to predict the dynamics of leading vehicles at intersections, leading to potential traffic blocking issues when right-of-way changes, as they may unintentionally enter the intersection before the leading vehicle has cleared it.
Innovation Solution
A traffic blocking avoidance system that includes intersection location data, detectors to monitor leading vehicle distances, and a controller to prevent the host vehicle from entering the intersection until the leading vehicle has cleared, using a combination of object detection devices and software modules to determine the appropriate timing for entry based on threshold distances and traffic light signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the automated vehicle enters the intersection when the right-of-way is granted, then the vehicle can maintain efficient traffic flow, but the vehicle may unintentionally block traffic if the leading vehicle has not cleared the intersection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the leading vehicle's position and trajectory before the host vehicle enters the intersection. By predicting whether the leading vehicle will clear the intersection before the right-of-way expires, the system prevents traffic blocking by delaying entry until it is safe to proceed, thus maintaining efficient traffic flow without causing intersections to be blocked.
2Reliability
If the automated vehicle monitors leading vehicle dynamics to predict clearance time, then the vehicle can avoid blocking traffic, but the system complexity increases due to additional detection and prediction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The traffic blocking avoidance system utilizes the existing object detection device already present in the automated vehicle for autonomous navigation. By repurposing this existing sensor to also detect leading vehicles and predict their clearance timing, the system achieves reliable traffic blocking avoidance without adding significant hardware complexity, as the same detection infrastructure serves multiple functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for semi-autonomous or autonomous operation of a host vehicle includes an intersection location data, at least one detector, and a controller. The intersection location data is associated with a roadway intersection. The at least one detector is configured to output a vehicle signal indicative of a location of a leading vehicle. The controller is configured to receive the vehicle signal and associate the vehicle signal relative to the intersection location data to prevent the host vehicle from entering the roadway intersection until the leading vehicle has at least traveled beyond the roadway intersection.