Autonomous Vehicle Speed Control for Side Obstacle Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle speed control systems only consider obstacles on the travel path, neglecting obstacles outside the path, leading to unnatural passenger sensations due to inconsistent speed adjustments based on the presence or absence of side obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for generating a target vehicle speed that considers both obstacles on and outside the travel path, using sensors and a control unit to calculate lateral deviations and adjust speed profiles accordingly, ensuring a comfortable driving experience by decelerating when side obstacles are present and maintaining suitable speed when none are present.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the target vehicle speed is reduced based only on obstacles on the travel path, then the obstacle avoidance capability is improved, but the passenger comfort deteriorates due to unnatural sensations when side obstacles are present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobstacle avoidance capabilityVSAvoidpassenger unpleasant sensation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the obstacle detection and speed adjustment consideration from the one-dimensional travel path to include two-dimensional lateral space by detecting obstacles outside the travel path and incorporating their lateral deviation into speed planning, thereby resolving the contradiction between obstacle avoidance and passenger comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the target vehicle speed is uniformly reduced regardless of side obstacles, then the safety margin is improved, but the travel efficiency deteriorates on roads without side obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety marginVSAvoidtravel efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different speed adjustment strategies based on the local spatial distribution of obstacles: when side obstacles are detected within a predetermined lateral distance, speed is reduced appropriately; when no side obstacles are present, speed is maintained at higher levels, thereby optimizing both safety and efficiency for different local conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3650257B1Target vehicle speed generation method and target vehicle speed generation device for driving assistance vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3650257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3650257B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3650257B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

During travel with driving assistance, the present disclosure prevents a passenger from having unpleasant sensations irrespective of whether or not an obstacle is present toward a side of a travel path of a host vehicle. A device for generating a target vehicle speed of an autonomous driving vehicle (driving-assisted vehicle) equipped with an autonomous driving control unit (2) (controller) for generating a target vehicle speed of a host vehicle in accordance with an obstacle that hinders travel of the host vehicle, wherein the autonomous driving control unit (2) comprises a target travel route generation unit (21), a peripheral object information acquisition unit (22), and a target vehicle speed generation unit (23). The target travel route generation unit (21) generates a target travel route of the host vehicle. The peripheral object information acquisition unit (22) acquires position information pertaining to an obstacle on a travel path of the host vehicle, and position information pertaining to an obstacle that is located toward the side and is outside of the travel path of the host vehicle. The target vehicle speed generation unit (23) calculates a lateral deviation to the obstacle on the travel path of the host vehicle with respect to the target travel route, calculates a lateral deviation to the obstacle that is outside of the travel path of the host vehicle with respect to the target travel route, and generates a lower target vehicle speed for an obstacle having a lesser lateral deviation than for an obstacle having a greater lateral deviation.