Vehicle Procession Control Through Traffic Intersections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems face challenges in efficiently managing the movement of vehicles through intersections, particularly in synchronizing the movement of following vehicles with the lead vehicle, leading to time delays and traffic congestion.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a vehicle control system that monitors the movement of a lead vehicle through an intersection and synchronizes the movement of a following vehicle using a combination of spatial monitoring systems, vehicle monitoring systems, and communications control modules to control vehicle velocity and steering, allowing for seamless traffic flow by matching the velocity of the following vehicle with the lead vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If autonomous driving systems control vehicle movement through intersections independently, then each vehicle can maintain its own speed and timing, but time delays accumulate for following vehicles and traffic congestion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime delay for following vehiclesVSAvoidtraffic flow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of multiple vehicles into a synchronized procession through the intersection. The lead vehicle is controlled to move through the intersection, and following vehicles are synchronized to match its movement, creating a coordinated group behavior that eliminates individual vehicle delays and improves overall traffic flow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the position and velocity of the lead vehicle and adjusting the control signals to following vehicles accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that following vehicles maintain synchronized movement with the lead vehicle, preventing time delays and congestion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If following vehicles maintain independent control through the intersection, then vehicle autonomy is preserved, but synchronized movement cannot be achieved leading to traffic delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle autonomyVSAvoidtime delay at intersection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication and control system as an intermediary between vehicles. This intermediary coordinates the movement of autonomous vehicles by transmitting control signals from the lead vehicle to following vehicles, enabling synchronized movement while preserving the autonomous nature of each vehicle through automated control rather than manual coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8977420B2Vehicle procession control through a traffic intersection

Publication Date: 2015.03.10 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method for controlling vehicle procession through an intersection includes monitoring movement of a first vehicle through the intersection, and synchronizing movement of a second vehicle following the first vehicle through the intersection to the first vehicle movement through the intersection.