Vehicle Lane-Change Control for Map and Lane Line Mismatch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in accurately determining appropriate lane change positions due to outdated map information that does not reflect the latest road structure, leading to potential lane changes in areas where changes cannot be made.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle controller system that utilizes sensors and high-precision maps to detect lane types and compare them with actual road structures, preventing lane changes when discrepancies are found, ensuring safe and accurate lane changes by referencing both map information and real-time sensor data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If map information is used to determine lane change positions, then lane change planning can be performed, but the map information may be outdated and not reflect the latest road structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane change planning timeVSAvoidroad structure accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects the actual type of lane line on the destination side of the travel lane and feeds back this information to verify against map information. This feedback mechanism ensures that lane change decisions are based on current road conditions rather than potentially outdated map data, resolving the contradiction between using map information for planning and ensuring reliability of road structure data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of the lane line type on the destination side before executing a lane change maneuver. By detecting whether the destination is actually a lane (as opposed to shoulder or margin) in advance, the system prevents attempted lane changes into inaccessible areas, thereby ensuring reliability before the actual lane change action occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle attempts to change lanes based on outdated map information, then lane change maneuver can be initiated, but the lane change may be unsafe or impossible due to actual road structure differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane change executionVSAvoidlane change safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting the actual lane line type on the destination side and comparing it with map information before allowing lane change execution. If the detected type differs from what the map indicates, the system prevents the lane change maneuver from occurring, thereby counteracting potential unsafe lane changes before they can happen

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary verification step that compares detected lane line types with map information. This intermediary check acts as a mediator between the lane change planning system and actual execution, ensuring that only safe and appropriate lane changes are permitted based on real-time road conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4063218B1Vehicle controller, and method and computer program for controlling vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4063218B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4063218B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4063218B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle controller includes a detection unit (31) that detects the type of lane line demarcating a travel lane being traveled by a vehicle (10) from a sensor signal generated by a sensor (3) mounted on the vehicle (10), the sensor signal representing surroundings of the vehicle (10); and a control unit (33) that determines whether the detected type of lane line matches the type of lane line represented in map information between the travel lane and an adjacent lane adjacent thereto at the current position of the vehicle (10) when a lane change to the adjacent lane is required. The control unit (33) controls the vehicle (10) to start a lane change to the adjacent lane in the case that the detected type of lane line matches the type of lane line represented in the map information.