Vehicle Driving Mode Switching at Target Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated driving systems do not adequately consider scenarios where there are no other vehicles in the surroundings, resulting in inadequate task lightness for occupants during driving control.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device and method that includes a recognizer to assess the surroundings, a driving controller to adjust steering and acceleration/deceleration, and a receiver to switch between driving modes based on occupant input, allowing for a mode change from a first driving mode to a second mode with a lighter task burden when the vehicle reaches a target speed in suitable environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automated driving control is executed under specific conditions such as congestion follow-up, then driving control can be implemented in targeted scenarios, but driving control cannot be appropriately executed in situations with no other vehicles in the surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between first driving control (automated) and second driving control (manual) based on the operational state and surroundings situation. The driving controller selects the appropriate control mode in real-time, allowing the system to adapt its degree of automation according to whether the vehicle is in congestion follow-up mode or normal traveling mode, thereby resolving the contradiction between targeted automated control and appropriate task burden across all situations.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle travels in the first driving mode, then the occupant has more control over the vehicle, but the task burden on the occupant is heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The driving control is segmented into two distinct modes: first driving control where the occupant has more control but bears heavier task burden, and second driving control where automated driving handles more tasks. The system divides the operational space into these two segments and allows switching between them based on the surroundings situation and occupant input, thereby resolving the contradiction between occupant control and task burden.
3Speed
If the driving mode is switched immediately when conditions are met, then the response is faster, but the vehicle speed may not be appropriate for the new mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining in advance whether the surroundings situation satisfies the switching condition before actually switching driving modes. When the condition is met (such as congestion follow-up ending), the system prepares for mode switching and executes it at the appropriate moment when vehicle speed is suitable, rather than immediately. This preliminary determination ensures both responsive switching and safe operation in the new mode.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device of an embodiment includes a recognizer that recognizes a surroundings situation of a vehicle, a driving controller that controls one or both of steering and acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, and a first receiver that receives an operation of switching between driving modes, the driving controller causes the vehicle to travel in any of a plurality of driving modes including a first mode and a second mode in which a task imposed on an occupant of the vehicle is lighter than that in the first mode, and the driving controller switches the driving mode from the first mode to the second mode after a speed of the vehicle reaches a target speed when a traveling environment is such that the first mode is being executed and the second mode is able to be executed and when an operation of switching to the second mode.