Vehicle Path Control Using Lateral Offsets in Narrow Lanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional deflection driving methods in autonomous vehicles face challenges in determining deflection values effectively, especially in complex driving environments, leading to unnatural path fluctuations and inadequate reaction to nearby vehicles in narrow lanes.
Innovation Solution
A driving control method and apparatus that collect and analyze vehicle information to generate imaginary lines based on nearby vehicles' positions, determining deflection values by considering the distance from adjacent lanes and vehicle widths, allowing for smooth path generation even in complex patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional deflection driving uses distance greater than safe distance as parameter, then collision avoidance is ensured, but driving path fluctuates unnaturally and logic complexity increases in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for determining deflection value from 'distance greater than safe distance' to 'lateral offset of another vehicle from lane center'. This parameter change simplifies the logic while maintaining collision avoidance, as the lateral offset directly indicates the space occupation of nearby vehicles without requiring complex distance-based safety logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces 'lateral offset' as an intermediary parameter that mediates between vehicle positions and deflection decisions. Instead of directly using complex distance calculations, the lateral offset serves as a simplified intermediate value that captures the essential spatial relationship needed for deflection determination.
2Reliability
If deflection value is determined using distance parameter, then safety margin is maintained, but subject vehicle does not react in advance in narrow lane sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary action by using lateral offset to predict future space occupation of nearby vehicles. By determining deflection value based on where other vehicles are positioned relative to lane centers, the subject vehicle can proactively adjust its path before entering narrow sections, rather than reacting after the fact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by continuously updating the deflection value as the subject vehicle and nearby vehicles move. The lateral offset is recalculated in real-time, allowing the deflection path to dynamically adapt to changing vehicle positions and maintain safety margins throughout the maneuver.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods use fixed deflection logic, then implementation is simple, but driving path does not adapt to changing driving environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by using a single lateral offset parameter that works across multiple driving environments (straight roads, curved roads, lane changes, intersections). This one-parameter approach maintains implementation simplicity while adapting to various scenarios, eliminating the need for environment-specific deflection logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving control apparatus and method may include collecting driving information related to a subject vehicle, wherein the driving information related to the subject vehicle includes a driving lane and a vehicle width of the subject vehicle, and driving information related to another vehicle, wherein the driving information related to another vehicle includes a driving lane and a vehicle width of at least one another vehicle around the subject vehicle, generating one or more imaginary lines indicating positions in a corresponding driving lane of the another vehicle based on the driving information related to the another vehicle, determining a deflection value by which the subject vehicle needs to be deflected in the driving lane of the subject vehicle based on the imaginary line, and determining a driving path of the subject vehicle based on the determined deflection value.