Vehicle Trajectory Prediction via Friction Intersection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle trajectory prediction methods are limited to emergency situations and do not effectively support drivers or prevent collisions before they occur, as they only consider movement trajectories within the maximum friction limit and do not adapt to dynamically changing driving conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method that intersects situationally necessary movement trajectories with physically possible trajectories based on driving dynamics and environmental sensors, ensuring only trajectories within the maximum friction limit are considered, and allows for continuous monitoring and adaptation of predicted trajectories to support the driver through braking and steering interventions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If only movement trajectories within the maximum friction limit are considered, then the physical feasibility of trajectories is ensured, but the system cannot effectively support drivers or prevent collisions before emergency situations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical feasibility of trajectoriesVSAvoidreaction time for collision prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of multiple movement trajectories in advance, before an emergency situation occurs. By pre-computing situationally necessary trajectories and their associated wheel forces, the system has ready-made options available when a collision risk is detected, eliminating the need for real-time trajectory generation during critical moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the selection and parameters of movement trajectories based on changing driving conditions. It continuously monitors the actual coefficient of friction and adjusts the chosen trajectory from the pre-calculated set to match current environmental conditions, maintaining physical feasibility while responding to dynamic situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system continuously monitors and adapts movement trajectories, then the ability to support drivers in dynamically changing conditions is improved, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to changing driving conditionsVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores multiple movement trajectories with their associated parameters before they are needed. This offline computation reduces the real-time computational burden to simply selecting and adjusting from the pre-computed set, rather than generating trajectories from scratch during emergency situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system adapts to changing conditions by selecting different pre-calculated trajectories or adjusting parameters of existing trajectories based on the actual coefficient of friction and current driving situation. This approach allows adaptation without requiring complex real-time recalculation of entire trajectory sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If multiple movement trajectories are pre-calculated and stored, then faster reaction to emergencies is enabled, but the memory and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction speed to emergenciesVSAvoiddata storage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores multiple movement trajectories with different characteristics (different curvatures, speeds, and force profiles) to cover various emergency scenarios. By having diverse trajectory options pre-calculated, the system can quickly select the most appropriate one for the specific emergency situation, improving reaction speed without storing unnecessary data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2681085B1Method and device for the prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of motor vehicles
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP2681085B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2681085B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2681085B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of a motor vehicle for assisting the driver in his task of driving and/or for preventing a collision or reducing the consequences of an accident. The present invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method. According to the present invention and in order to carry out a prediction and adaptation of movement trajectories of a motor vehicle, an intersection of situatively required movement trajectories, which are determined using an environment sensor system, and physically possible movement trajectories, which result from properties which are characteristic of the driving dynamics of the motor vehicle and from the coefficient of friction obtained between tyres and road up to a maximum possible threshold coefficient of friction, is formed. According to the invention, only movement trajectories are taken into account which lie within this intersection. In this way, it is ensured that only movement trajectories are taken into account which, on the basis of the forces exerted on the wheels and resulting from the calculated movement trajectories by combining braking forces and/or steering forces, lie below the maximum possible threshold coefficient of friction.