Vehicle Travel Track Control Using Forward and Side Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle travel track control devices face accuracy deterioration and termination issues when the curvature radius of a lane is small or when camera image capture is limited due to factors like rain, rapid light changes, or large vehicles obstructing the view.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle travel track control device that uses an image capture system with both forward and side cameras to calculate and adjust the target steered angle of wheels, allowing for accurate control even when forward image information is insufficient by supplementing data from side images and varying the capturing direction or range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera captures forward image information to determine lane, then the vehicle travel track control can be executed, but when the curvature radius of the lane is small, the capturing range is limited and it becomes impossible to obtain enough forward information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from relying solely on forward image capture to incorporating side image capture as an additional dimension. When the forward camera cannot capture sufficient lane information due to small curvature radius, the system activates side cameras to capture lane markings from the lateral direction, thereby obtaining the necessary information for accurate lane specification and maintaining control precision.
2Reliability
If a camera captures forward image information to determine lane, then the vehicle travel track control can be executed, but in situations such as rain, spray, rapid light changes, or presence of large vehicles, the camera cannot properly capture image ahead of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side cameras as intermediary devices that capture lane information from alternative viewpoints. When environmental factors such as rain, spray, rapid light changes, or obstructing vehicles prevent the forward camera from capturing adequate image information, the side cameras serve as intermediaries to acquire the necessary lane marking data, ensuring the reliability and continuity of vehicle travel track control.
3Device complexity
If only forward image information is used to calculate target steered angle, then the system structure is simple, but the accuracy deteriorates when forward information is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional image capture system where side cameras serve dual purposes: they can capture lane information for use in both forward viewing conditions and curved road conditions. This universal approach allows the system to maintain simple structure during normal operation while automatically activating side cameras only when needed for small curvature radius roads or adverse environmental conditions, thereby improving accuracy without permanently increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle travel track control device which includes a forward image capture device which captures an image ahead of a vehicle, and side image capture devices which capture an image on the left side and/or the right side of the vehicle. When it is possible to properly execute a travel track control on the basis of captured forward image information ahead of the vehicle, the travel track control is executed on the basis of the captured forward image information sent from the forward image capture device, and when it is not possible to properly execute a travel track control on the basis of the captured forward image information, the travel track control is executed on the basis of at least captured side image information sent from the side image capture devices.