Vehicle Lateral Clearance Control Using a Multi-Dimensional Envelope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional navigation systems for vehicles are inadequate for managing routes in rapidly changing driving conditions, often leading to trip delays or collisions due to their complexity and conservatism.
Innovation Solution
A multi-dimensional envelope is generated to indicate a drivable region for a vehicle, allowing processors to adjust lateral clearance based on sensor data, including objects' proximity, speed, and environmental factors, enabling dynamic navigation and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional statistical models are used for navigation decisions, then driving safety may be improved, but system complexity increases making real-time analysis difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential safety-critical parameters from complex statistical models, creating a simplified decision-making framework that retains safety functionality while reducing computational burden for real-time operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms complex statistical models into simplified parameter-based decision rules, changing the representation from detailed probability distributions to key threshold parameters that can be evaluated in real-time while maintaining safety standards
2Reliability
If conservative navigation rules are applied, then collision avoidance may be improved, but trip efficiency deteriorates due to excessive stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of lateral clearance based on real-time environmental conditions, allowing the vehicle to maintain conservative safety margins when objects are detected while reducing clearance (and avoiding unnecessary stops) when the path is clear, thus balancing collision avoidance with trip efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the lateral clearance parameter based on detected conditions, transitioning between conservative and efficient operating modes rather than maintaining a fixed conservative margin, thereby improving both safety and productivity
3Measurement precision
If reactive navigation systems are used for predetermined routes, then route following may be improved, but adaptability to rapidly changing conditions deteriorates causing delays or collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback from sensors about environmental conditions and object positions, allowing the navigation system to adjust the multi-dimensional envelope and lateral clearance in real-time, enabling adaptation to changing conditions while maintaining precise route following
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms static predetermined routes into dynamic adaptive paths by continuously adjusting the drivable region boundaries based on real-time conditions, allowing the vehicle to deviate from strict route adherence when necessary for safety while returning to the optimal path when conditions permit
Data Source
AI summary
Among other things, we describe techniques for adjusting lateral clearance for a vehicle using a multi-dimensional envelope. A trajectory is generated for the vehicle. A multi-dimensional envelope is generated indicating a drivable region for the vehicle and containing the trajectory. One or more objects are identified located along or adjacent to the trajectory. At least one dimension of the generated multi-dimensional envelope is adjusted to adjust a lateral clearance between the vehicle and the identified one or more objects. A control module of the vehicle navigates the vehicle along the multi-dimensional envelope.