Mobile Object Control Using Virtual Lanes for Road Type Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional technologies struggle to accurately distinguish between movement on roadways and predetermined regions such as sidewalks, leading to inconsistent speed control.

Innovation Solution

A mobile object control device that utilizes a road type recognition unit to set virtual lanes and perform spatial classification processes on images captured by an external camera, integrating a trained model to determine whether the object is on a roadway or in a different region, and adjusts speed limits accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional road type recognition methods are used, then the system can identify roadways and predetermined regions, but the recognition accuracy is insufficient to appropriately distinguish between roadways and regions like sidewalks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad type recognition accuracyVSAvoidspeed control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the road surface recognition task into multiple virtual lanes (central lane, left lane, right lane) and performs spatial classification on each lane separately. This segmentation allows the system to analyze different portions of the road surface independently, improving the accuracy of determining whether the mobile object is on a roadway or in a predetermined region like a sidewalk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of analysis by creating virtual lanes in the spatial domain and performing classification on multiple lanes simultaneously. This multi-dimensional approach (analyzing central, left, and right lanes) enhances the system's ability to accurately distinguish between different road types compared to conventional single-point recognition methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the mobile object moves at high speed on roadways, then productivity is improved, but safety is compromised when the object mistakenly enters predetermined regions like sidewalks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement speed on roadwayVSAvoidsafety risk in predetermined region
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the mobile object's position by performing spatial classification on multiple virtual lanes and provides feedback to the control unit. When the system determines that the mobile object has entered a predetermined region (such as a sidewalk), it immediately adjusts the speed limit from the first speed (higher) to the second speed (lower), ensuring safety while maintaining productivity on roadways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic speed adjustment based on real-time road type recognition. The speed limit is not fixed but changes dynamically according to the mobile object's location: a first speed (higher) is applied when on a roadway, and a second speed (lower) is applied when in a predetermined region. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4502983B1Control device for mobile body, control method for mobile body, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4502983B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4502983B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4502983B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A mobile object control device for controlling a mobile object capable of moving both on a roadway and in a predetermined region different from the roadway includes a road type recognition unit configured to set a virtual central lane including an assumed course of the mobile object, a virtual right lane located on a right side of the virtual central lane as seen from the mobile object, and a virtual left lane located on a left side of the virtual central lane as seen from the mobile object in an image captured by an external camera configured to perform an imaging process in a movement direction of the mobile object and recognize whether the mobile object is moving on the roadway or in the predetermined region on the basis of results of performing spatial classification processes for the virtual central lane, the virtual right lane, and the virtual left lane and a control unit configured to limit a speed of a case where the mobile object moves on the roadway to a first speed and limit a speed of a case where the mobile object moves in the predetermined region to a second speed lower than the first speed.