Vehicle Trajectory Display Segmentation for Obstacle Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current driving assistance systems give the impression that a vehicle's future trajectory passes through obstacles, leading to driver confusion due to sudden trajectory changes and lack of information on steering and trajectory beyond obstacles.

Innovation Solution

A processing device breaks down the future trajectory into parts before, between, and after obstacles, displaying them with distinct aspects to differentiate and provide intuitive visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the future trajectory is displayed as a continuous line independent of obstacles, then the trajectory information is complete and continuous, but the driver has the impression that the vehicle will pass through obstacles causing confusion and annoyance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrajectory information completenessVSAvoiddriver understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The future trajectory line is segmented into multiple portions based on obstacle positions. Each portion is independently controlled in terms of visibility and styling. When an obstacle is detected, the trajectory line is divided into segments before, during, and after the obstacle, allowing the system to maintain information completeness while improving driver understanding through selective display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the trajectory line are assigned different visual qualities based on their spatial relationship with obstacles. The portion before the obstacle may be displayed with full visibility, the portion at the obstacle may be interrupted or dimmed, and the portion after may be displayed differently. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing complete information with appropriate visual cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the future trajectory is abruptly stopped at the detected obstacle level, then the driver no longer has the impression that the vehicle will pass through the obstacle, but the driver loses information on steering in progress and trajectory beyond the obstacle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver understandingVSAvoidtrajectory information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of abruptly stopping the trajectory line at the obstacle, the system segments the line into multiple portions. The first portion extends to the obstacle, the second portion may be interrupted or styled differently at the obstacle location, and a third portion continues beyond the obstacle. This segmentation preserves trajectory information while maintaining driver understanding through visual differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trajectory line display is made dynamic and adaptive based on obstacle detection. The system continuously adjusts the visibility and styling of different trajectory portions as the vehicle moves and obstacles are detected or cleared. This dynamic adjustment allows information to be preserved while adapting to changing driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the future trajectory length is independently fixed, then the display is simple and consistent, but sudden changes in trajectory length occur when the vehicle approaches obstacles due to detection inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay system complexityVSAvoidtrajectory display stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory line is segmented into multiple portions that can be independently adjusted. When detection inaccuracies cause sudden changes in overall trajectory length, individual segments can be independently managed to smooth out transitions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain display stability without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential detection inaccuracies by implementing buffering mechanisms for trajectory length changes. When the vehicle approaches obstacles, the system anticipates potential detection variations and adjusts trajectory display gradually rather than abruptly. This cushioning effect prevents sudden visual changes that could disturb the driver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2750961B1Device for estimating a future path of a vehicle and associating with parts that it comprises aspects that differ according to their positions in relation to an obstacle, for a drive-assist system
Publication Date: 2016.07.06 PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2750961B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2750961B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP2750961B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

A processing device (D) is associated with a system (SA) intended to assist the driver of a vehicle (V) and designed to build a representation of a synthetic image in at least one view chosen on the one hand at least from a chosen zone surrounding this vehicle (V), and to display at least part of this representation. This device (D) comprises processing means (MT) designed to determine a future path of the vehicle (V) within the representation as a function at least of the current steering angle and speed of the vehicle (V) so that it can be displayed on the at least part of the representation and, if the future path intersects with an obstacle, to break this future path down into a first part containing this obstacle, a second part located between the vehicle (V) and the first part, and a third part located after the first part, and to associate first and second aspects respectively with the second and third parts of the future path so that these second and third parts of the future path are displayed with their respective associated first and second aspects.