Vehicle Offset Control for Streetcar Adjacency

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems fail to optimally position a host vehicle in a travel lane, particularly when encountering streetcars, as they do not adequately adjust the lateral offset based on the presence and type of adjacent vehicles, leading to suboptimal positioning and potential collisions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device with an external environment recognition unit, offset setting unit, and vehicle control unit that adjusts the lateral offset of the host vehicle based on recognized vehicles, setting a smaller offset for streetcars and larger offsets for other vehicles, and considers curvature, reflectance, visibility of wheels, and vehicle height to determine the type of adjacent vehicle, ensuring optimal lane positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large offset amount is set to avoid other vehicles, then collision risk with other vehicles is reduced, but the host vehicle cannot travel at a constant position in the travel lane

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision riskVSAvoidconstant position in travel lane

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different offset amounts based on the local characteristics of adjacent vehicles. Track traveling vehicles (streetcars) receive a smaller offset amount since they cannot leave the track, while other vehicles receive a larger offset amount. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining constant position when adjacent to streetcars while providing adequate safety margin when adjacent to other vehicle types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The offset amount is dynamically adjusted based on the type of vehicle detected in the adjacent lane. The system transitions from a static, fixed offset approach to a dynamic, adaptive offset approach that changes according to real-time detection of adjacent vehicle characteristics, enabling optimal positioning under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If a small offset amount is set to travel at constant position, then lane positioning precision is improved, but safety margin against other vehicles is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelane positioning precisionVSAvoidsafety margin

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different offset amounts based on the local characteristics of adjacent vehicles. Track traveling vehicles (streetcars) receive a smaller offset amount since they cannot leave the track, while other vehicles receive a larger offset amount. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining constant position when adjacent to streetcars while providing adequate safety margin when adjacent to other vehicle types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the offset parameter based on the detected vehicle type. By identifying whether the adjacent vehicle is a track traveling vehicle or another type, the system adjusts the offset amount parameter accordingly, optimizing both positioning precision and safety margin based on the specific operational context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the system identifies vehicle type to set appropriate offset, then positioning optimality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning optimalityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the category of adjacent vehicles into distinct types: track traveling vehicles (streetcars) and other vehicles. This segmentation enables the offset setting unit to apply different offset amounts to each category, improving positioning optimality while keeping the classification logic relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The external environment recognition unit performs multiple functions: it detects the presence of adjacent vehicles, identifies their type (track traveling vs. other), and provides this information to the offset setting unit. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating detection and classification tasks into a single integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11054832B2Vehicle control device for setting vehicle offset spacing

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

If an external environment recognition unit recognizes another vehicle that is positioned along a travel lane, an offset setting unit sets an offset amount in a direction of separating a host vehicle from the other vehicle. The offset setting unit sets the offset amount (predetermined amount) to be smaller in a case where the external environment recognition unit identifies the other vehicle as a streetcar, than the offset amount (predetermined amount) in a case where the external environment recognition unit identifies the other vehicle as an vehicle other than the streetcar.