Vehicle Wheel Route Prediction via Steering Angle Imaging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers, especially those inexperienced, face difficulty in accurately predicting the traveling routes of vehicle wheels, particularly on uneven terrain like rocky paths, as existing driving support systems do not effectively display the wheel paths, making it hard to avoid obstacles and maintain vehicle stability.

Innovation Solution

A driving support device that includes an imaging unit, steering angle detection, route image generation, and superimposed image display to visually indicate the wheel paths as belt-like areas, ensuring accuracy and visibility of the wheel routes, with additional features for determining off-road conditions and shifting modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a driver sits on the driver seat to operate the vehicle, then the driver can control the vehicle, but the driver cannot accurately predict the travelling routes of the wheels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction accuracy of wheel routesVSAvoiddriver's ability to predict wheel paths
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of the wheel travelling routes by detecting the steering angle and generating a route image that superimposes predicted wheel paths onto the captured image. This virtual representation allows the driver to accurately predict wheel routes without physically experiencing the vehicle's movement dynamics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The route image generation unit acts as an intermediary between the steering input and the actual wheel movement. It processes the steering angle detection data and translates it into a visual representation of wheel paths, bridging the gap between driver input and predicted vehicle behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the driver needs to avoid treacherous ground on off-road terrain, then the driver must predict wheel routes accurately, but existing systems do not provide visual feedback of wheel paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stability on off-road groundVSAvoidvisual information about wheel travelling routes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates a visual copy of the wheel travelling routes by superimposing route images on the captured terrain image. This provides the driver with visual feedback about where the wheels will travel, enabling accurate prediction and avoidance of treacherous ground sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a visual dimension to wheel route information by displaying the predicted paths as overlay images. This transforms invisible wheel trajectories into visible guidance information, allowing drivers to perceive future wheel positions in the visual field.

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

3Loss of information

If the system displays the full travelling route of wheels, then the driver can see the complete path, but the accuracy of distant route predictions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of complete wheel pathVSAvoidaccuracy of predicted route at distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays the wheel route image for a predetermined distance rather than the complete infinite path. This partial display approach maintains accuracy for the visible portion while avoiding the need to predict and display increasingly inaccurate distant routes beyond the predetermined range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2458574B1Driving support device
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 AISIN SEIKI KK
  • EP2458574B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2458574B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2458574B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a driving support device that allows a driver to confirm the travelling routes of the wheels of a vehicle from an image indicating the circumference of the vehicle. The driving support device includes: an imaging unit which takes a travelling direction image by shooting in the travelling direction of a vehicle; a steering angle detection unit which detects the steering angle of the vehicle; a route image generation unit-which predicts travelling routes of wheels provided on the travelling direction side of the vehicle, and generates a route image that indicates the travelling routes of the wheels as seen from the viewpoint of the imaging unit; a superimposed image generation unit which generates a superimposed image by superimposing the route image on the travelling direction image; and an image display unit which displays the superimposed image.