Vehicle State Determination Using Virtual Sensor Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensor systems are limited by their range, failing to effectively warn drivers of potential collisions with vehicles outside their detection range during lane changes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that determine a vehicle's state by evaluating sensor data to assess the probability of collision with vehicles outside the sensor range, using virtual vehicles at minimum or maximum speeds to calculate critical conditions, and considering road geometry and sensor detection areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor range is extended to detect vehicles farther away, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the sensor range based on vehicle speed and critical distance thresholds before actual lane change execution. This allows the system to proactively identify potential collision risks with vehicles outside the current sensor range, enabling early warning without requiring physical extension of sensor coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes sensor data, calculates sensor range based on vehicle speed and minimum/maximum speeds, and determines critical states. This intermediary computation layer extends the effective detection capability beyond the physical sensor range without adding physical sensors.
2Device complexity
If the sensor range is kept limited, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to warn of vehicles outside detection range is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual model of the sensor detection range by calculating the sensor range based on vehicle speed and comparing it with the distance to other vehicles. This virtual copy of the detection range allows the system to assess risks from vehicles outside the physical sensor range without requiring additional physical sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the effective sensor range parameter based on vehicle speed. By calculating sensor range as a function of current speed, minimum speed, and maximum speed, the system adapts its detection capability to match driving conditions, maintaining reliability while keeping the physical sensor system simple.
3Reliability
If the system determines vehicle state based on sensor range and speed, then the safety warning capability is improved, but the calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic calculation of sensor range based on current vehicle speed, adjusting the effective detection range in real-time. The control unit continuously updates the sensor range parameter as speed changes, allowing the system to maintain accurate safety assessments without requiring complex static models for all possible speed conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically determines whether the vehicle state is critical or non-critical by comparing the calculated sensor range with the distance to detected vehicles. The system self-evaluates its own detection capability and makes safety determinations without requiring external intervention or complex additional processing systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A state (30) of a vehicle (10), which comprises a sensor (9) for sensing another vehicle (2), is determined on the basis of the following steps: determining a speed (11) of the vehicle (10); determining the state (30) in accordance with the sensing range (4) of the sensor (9) and the speed (11).