Vehicle Traveling Control Device Lateral Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle traveling control devices decelerate vehicles when the preceding vehicle is lost, which can cause traffic congestion and increase the risk of collision.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle traveling control device that automatically adjusts the lateral position of a vehicle to the opposite side of the adjacent lane when the preceding vehicle is lost, without decelerating, and includes a warning system to switch to manual driving if the loss duration exceeds a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is decelerated when the preceding vehicle is lost, then the distance to the preceding vehicle is maintained and the possibility of collision is decreased, but traffic congestion is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional speed control (deceleration) to two-dimensional control by adjusting both lateral position and speed. When the preceding vehicle is lost, the system first shifts the vehicle laterally away from the adjacent lane to reduce collision risk, then applies deceleration control, thereby addressing safety concerns without immediately disrupting traffic flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts control strategies based on the duration of lost detection. For short durations (first threshold), only lateral position adjustment is applied. For longer durations (second threshold), both lateral adjustment and deceleration are applied. This dynamic, time-based control optimizes the balance between collision avoidance and traffic flow maintenance.
2Productivity
If the lateral position is adjusted without deceleration, then traffic congestion is reduced, but the response time for collision avoidance may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary lateral position adjustment immediately when the preceding vehicle is lost, before applying deceleration control. This preliminary action creates spatial separation and reduces collision risk in advance, allowing subsequent speed control to be applied more effectively without causing immediate traffic disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control response is segmented into distinct phases: first lateral position adjustment, then deceleration control. This segmentation allows the system to address the most critical safety concern (lateral collision risk) separately from traffic flow management (speed control), optimizing both objectives.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle maintains automatic travelling mode for extended periods, then operational convenience is improved, but driver awareness and control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the detection status of the preceding vehicle and provides feedback to the driver through warnings when the lost duration exceeds the second threshold. This feedback mechanism maintains driver awareness and control readiness while allowing automatic operation to continue for extended periods under normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic warning signals to the driver at predetermined intervals when the lost duration exceeds thresholds. These periodic reminders maintain driver engagement and readiness to take control while preserving the benefits of extended automatic operation during normal driving conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle travelling control device is configured to cause a vehicle to automatically travel along the target lateral position set in a travelling lane in advance. The device includes a peripheral information detection unit configured to detect peripheral information of the vehicle, a preceding vehicle recognition unit configured to recognize a position of the preceding vehicle in an adjacent lane which is adjacent to the travelling lane based on the peripheral information detection unit, and a travel control unit configured to cause the vehicle to automatically travel along a separated lateral position which is separated from the target lateral position at the opposite side of the adjacent lane side in a case where a lost duration that is a continuous period of time during which the position of the preceding vehicle is lost in the preceding vehicle recognition unit reaches a first predetermined time.