Vibration Conveyance Control for Road Surface Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
During automatic driving, vehicles may fail to effectively convey road surface irregularities to the driver, potentially leading to missed deteriorations in road conditions and delayed discontinuation of automatic driving, compromising safety and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance amount controlling apparatus that includes a control state detector, a road surface state detector, and conveyance amount controllers to adjust the amount of vibration information conveyed to the driver based on automatic driving status and road surface conditions, using a combination of suspension and EPS motor controls to balance comfort and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If vibration is fully conveyed to the driver during automatic driving control, then the driver can understand road surface state, but the driver may feel unpleasant and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the vibration conveyance amount based on road surface state amounts. When the road surface state amount is below a first threshold, the vibration conveyance amount is set to a second conveyance amount (less than first conveyance amount). When the road surface state amount is equal to or above the first threshold, the vibration conveyance amount is increased to a third conveyance amount (greater than second conveyance amount). This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting vibration feedback to actual road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making the vibration conveyance amount variable rather than fixed. The conveyance amount controller continuously adjusts the vibration feedback based on detected road surface state amounts and automatic driving control status. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to convey necessary road information while minimizing unnecessary vibration that would cause driver discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration is reduced during automatic driving control, then driver comfort is improved, but the driver may miss road condition deteriorations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using road surface state detectors to continuously monitor road conditions and feeding this information back to the conveyance amount controller. The controller then adjusts vibration feedback to the driver based on this detected information. This ensures that when road conditions deteriorate (road surface state amount reaches first threshold), the system provides appropriate vibration feedback to alert the driver, while maintaining comfort during normal conditions.
3Reliability
If vibration conveyance amount is increased to ensure safety, then driver awareness of road conditions is improved, but driver comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves this contradiction by changing the vibration conveyance amount parameter based on detected road surface state amounts and automatic driving control status. During automatic driving control with normal road conditions, the conveyance amount is reduced to the second conveyance amount for comfort. When road conditions deteriorate, the conveyance amount is increased to the third conveyance amount for safety, thus dynamically balancing both requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance amount controlling apparatus includes a control state detector, a road surface state detector, and at least one conveyance amount controller including a conveyance device conveying, to a driver, information representing a road surface state and a conveyance amount controlling device controlling a vibration conveyance amount as a conveyance amount of a vibration caused by a road surface irregularity. A second conveyance amount, as the vibration conveyance amount obtained when a road surface state amount less than a first threshold is detected by the road surface state detector, is less than a first conveyance amount, as the vibration conveyance amount obtained when execution of an automatic driving control is not detected by the control state detector. A third conveyance amount, as the vibration conveyance amount obtained when the road surface state amount equal to or greater than the first threshold is detected, is greater than the second conveyance amount.