Impact-absorbing apparatus and method for vehicle

1. An impact-absorbing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a path generation unit configured to generate an own vehicle travel path of an own vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the own vehicle, and a preceding vehicle travel path of a preceding vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the preceding vehicle;

a collision determination unit configured to determine whether or not a collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle is expected, based on the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path; and

a controller configured to control at least one of braking and steering systems of the own vehicle to control the own vehicle such that the own vehicle travels in the new travel path, wherein the controller is further configured to, when the collision determination unit determines that it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, control a braking amount of a first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned farther from the preceding vehicle than a second wheel of the own vehicle, to be greater than a braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to the preceding vehicle than the first wheel of the own vehicle, and then change the braking amount of the first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned farther from the preceding vehicle than the second wheelof the own vehicle, to be less than the braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to the preceding vehicle than the first wheel of the own vehicle so that, when it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, We own vehicle is controlled to travel in a direction different from the travel direction of the preceding vehicle first and then change the travel direction of the own vehicle toward the preceding vehicle.

2. The impact-absorbing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the path generation unit calculates a difference in heading angle between the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path; and

when the difference in heading angle is less than a predetermined angle, the path generation unit generates the new travel path such that an impact area between the own vehicle and a rear surface of the preceding vehicle is increased compared to when the own vehicle travels in the own vehicle travel path.

3. The impact-absorbing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the path generation unit calculates a difference in heading angle between the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path; and

when the difference in heading angle is equal to or more than a predetermined angle, the path generation unit generates the new travel path such that an impact area between the own vehicle and a side surface of the preceding vehicle is increased compared to when the own vehicle travels in the own vehicle travel path.

4. An impact-absorbing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a path generation unit configured to generate an own vehicle travel path of an own vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the own vehicle, and a preceding vehicle travel path of a preceding vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the preceding vehicle;

a passenger detection unit configured to detect whether or not a passenger is seated on a front passenger seat of the own vehicle;

a collision determination unit configured to determine whether or not a collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle is expected, based on the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path; and

a controller configured to control at least one of braking and steering systems of the own vehicle to control the own vehicle such that the own vehicle travels in the new travel path, wherein the controller is further configured to, when the collision determination unit determines that it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle and the passenger is seat on the front passenger seat of the own vehicle, control a braking amount of a first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned further from the preceding vehicle than a second wheel of the own vehicle, to be greater than a braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to the preceding vehicle than the first wheel of the own vehicle, and then change the braking amount of the first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned farther from the preceding vehicle then the second wheel of the own vehicle, to be less than the braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to the preceding vehicle than the wheel of the own vehicle, so that,when it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, the own vehicle is controlled to travel in a direction different from the travel direction of the preceding vehicle first and then change the travel direction of the own vehicle toward the preceding vehicle.

5. An impact-absorbing method for a vehicle, comprising:

generating an own vehicle travel path of an own vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the own vehicle, and a preceding vehicle travel path of a preceding vehicle, based on a speed and travel direction of the preceding vehicle;

determining whether or not a collision between and the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle is expected based on the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path; and

controlling braking and/or steering systems of the own vehicle such that the own vehicle travels in the new travel path, wherein the controlling of the braking and/or steering systems of the own vehicle comprises, when it is determined that it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, controlling a braking amount of a first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned farther from the preceding vehicle than a second wheel of the own vehicle, to be greater than a braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to preceding vehicle than the first wheel of the own vehicle, and then changing the braking amount of the first wheel of the own vehicle, positioned father from the preceding vehicle than the second wheel of the own vehicle, to be less than the braking amount of the second wheel of the own vehicle, positioned closer to the preceding vehicle than the first wheel of the own vehicle, so that, when it is impossible to avoid the collision between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, the own vehicle is controlled to travel in a direction different from the travel direction of the preceding vehicle first and change the travel direction of the own vehicle toward the preceding vehicle.

6. The impact-absorbing method according to claim 5 , wherein the generating a new travel path comprises:

calculating a difference in heading angle between the own vehicle travel path and the preceding vehicle travel path;

generating the new travel path such that an impact area between the own vehicle and a rear surface of the preceding vehicle is increased, compared to when the own vehicle travels in the own vehicle travel path, when the difference in heading angle is less than a predetermined angle, the path generation unit; and

generating the new travel path such that an impact area between the own vehicle and a side surface of the preceding vehicle is increased, compared to when the own vehicle travels in the own vehicle travel path, when the difference in heading angle is equal to or more than the predetermined angle.