Vehicle Obstacle Warning Logic for Narrow Passage Driving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing obstacle warning systems for vehicles often provide unnecessary warnings when driving through narrow passages with obstacles on both sides, distracting the driver.

Innovation Solution

An obstacle warning system that uses left and right proximity sensors to measure distances to obstacles, adjusts warning thresholds based on the ratio of these distances, and compensates for vehicle turns and speed, issuing warnings only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a simple threshold-based warning system is used, then the system is simple and responsive, but it generates unnecessary warnings when driving through narrow passages with obstacles on both sides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The warning system is segmented into multiple evaluation stages: initial obstacle detection, distance threshold checking, ratio calculation, and conditional warning issuance. This multi-stage segmentation allows the system to filter out false warnings while maintaining structural clarity and manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts warning behavior based on real-time conditions. By calculating the ratio between left and right distances and comparing it against a threshold range, the system adaptively determines whether to issue warnings, transforming a static threshold system into a dynamic, context-aware system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the warning threshold is shortened for passages with obstacles on both sides, then false warnings are reduced, but warnings may be omitted when they are still necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse warningsVSAvoidwarning coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the ratio calculation to continuously adjust warning behavior. By monitoring whether the distance ratio falls within or outside the threshold range, the system provides feedback that determines warning issuance, ensuring both false warning reduction and adequate warning coverage based on actual spatial conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the evaluation parameter from absolute distance threshold to a relative ratio threshold. This parameter transformation allows the system to adapt to different passage configurations dynamically, reducing false warnings in narrow passages while maintaining warning coverage when obstacles are asymmetrically positioned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the system calculates the ratio of left distance to right distance, then it can accurately determine vehicle centering, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle centering detectionVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality assessment by focusing on the specific relationship between left and right distances rather than analyzing all possible spatial parameters. This localized approach to measuring vehicle centering through ratio calculation achieves high precision without requiring comprehensive system-wide computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4672196A1An obstacle warning system for a vehicle, a method for issuing an obstacle warning by an obstacle warning system for a vehicle and a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RES & DEV CO LTD
  • EP4672196A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP4672196A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4672196A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an obstacle warning system for a vehicle (2) comprising a left proximity sensor (3) configured to detect and measure distance to obstacles (5) on the left side of the vehicle; a right proximity sensor (4) configured to detect and measure distance to obstacles (6) on the right side of the vehicle; a processing circuitry (7) operatively connected to the left proximity sensor (3) and the right proximity sensor (4), arranged to cause the obstacle warning system to: obtain, via the left proximity sensor (3), information regarding presence and a left distance (dl) to obstacles (5) on the left front vehicle side; obtain, via the right proximity sensor (4), information regarding presence and a right distance (dr) to obstacles (6) on the right front vehicle side; in response to determining that a single obstacle (5,6) is detected on the left side or the right side, and that the left distance or the right distance to the single obstacle is below a first predetermined threshold issue an obstacle warning to the vehicle; characterised in that in response to determining that obstacles (5,6) are detected on the left side of the vehicle and at the right side of the vehicle, and that the left distance (dl) and/or the right distance (dr) are/is below the first predetermined threshold but above a second predetermined threshold omit issuing an obstacle warning to the vehicle. The disclosure further relates to a method for issuing an obstacle warning by an obstacle warning system for a vehicle and a vehicle.