An autonomous driving vehicle anti-theft system and method

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of vehicle anti-theft systems, in particular to an autonomous driving vehicle anti-theft system and method, which comprises an upper-mounted system, a vehicle controller, a manned starting switch, an unmanned starting switch, an instrument, a throttle switch, a power battery, a motor controller and a driving motor; the vehicle controller is connected with the upper-mounted system; the manned starting switch is connected with the vehicle controller; the unmanned starting switch is connected with the vehicle controller; the instrument is connected with the vehicle controller; the throttle switch is connected with the vehicle controller; the power battery is connected with the vehicle controller; the motor controller is connected with the vehicle controller and the power battery; the autonomous driving vehicle anti-theft system can avoid the situation that when the autonomous driving vehicle is driven autonomously, a person overtakes the vehicle when the vehicle speed is low and the key is in the vehicle, the autonomous driving system of the vehicle is powered off, and then the vehicle is driven to other places, so that the vehicle is lost, and the safety of the vehicle is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle anti-theft system technology, and in particular to an anti-theft system and method for autonomous driving vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Cars are mostly driven manually, meaning each car has a driver's seat and the driver controls the car's movement. However, due to the varying levels of driver competence and the fast pace of modern life, where people participate in other social activities in addition to driving, accidents involving fatigued driving and drunk driving frequently occur, endangering people's lives and property.

[0003] Currently, with the development of driverless technology, autonomous vehicles using driverless technology have emerged. These vehicles use sensing devices to perceive information about the environment around them, such as road conditions and driving environment, enabling driverless vehicles to travel safely on highways without the need for a driver.

[0004] However, existing autonomous vehicles lack anti-theft features. When the vehicle is driving autonomously at low speeds and the key is in the car, it is easily stolen. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an anti-theft system and method for autonomous vehicles, which can prevent theft of autonomous vehicles at low speeds during autonomous driving.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles, including an upper structure system, a vehicle controller, a manned start switch, an unmanned start switch, an instrument panel, a throttle switch, a power battery, a motor controller, and a drive motor;

[0007] The vehicle controller is connected to the superstructure system, the manned start switch is connected to the vehicle controller, the unmanned start switch is connected to the vehicle controller, the instrument panel is connected to the vehicle controller, the throttle switch is connected to the vehicle controller, the power battery is connected to the vehicle controller, the motor controller is connected to both the vehicle controller and the power battery, and the drive motor is connected to the motor controller.

[0008] Secondly, the present invention also provides a method for preventing theft of autonomous vehicles, comprising:

[0009] The manned and unmanned start switches are respectively set with three positions: OFF, ON, and START. The switch can automatically reset from the ON position to the STAR position. The key can only be removed in the OFF position. The initial position of the manned and unmanned start switches is the OFF position.

[0010] The throttle switch is equipped with a P gear switch, a R gear switch, a N gear switch, a D gear switch, and an electronic throttle.

[0011] When a vehicle needs to be driven by a human, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the human start switch;

[0012] When the vehicle needs to be driven autonomously, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the unmanned start switch;

[0013] When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, pressing the brake pedal will exit the autonomous driving mode. If the vehicle needs to enter autonomous driving mode, the driver must turn the driverless start switch from the ON position to the START position and hold it for more than a preset threshold time. When the driver needs to switch the vehicle from autonomous driving mode to manned driving mode, a manned start switch key is required to switch the vehicle to manned mode and drive the vehicle.

[0014] The specific steps for controlling the vehicle by manually operating the manned start switch when the vehicle is to be driven include:

[0015] When the vehicle is to be driven by a human, turn the human start switch to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system is powered on, but the autonomous driving system is not powered on. The instrument mode indicator light is flashing. The vehicle controller and instrument do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch. The power battery, motor controller and drive motor do not work.

[0016] When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position, and the key remains in the START position for a time longer than a preset threshold, the vehicle controller receives a signal indicating that someone is driving, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel. At this time, the instrument panel mode indicator is off. The vehicle controller and the instrument panel respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch. At the same time, the vehicle controller responds to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle, controls the motor controller and the power battery to start working, drives the drive motor to work, and realizes the vehicle's forward and reverse movement.

[0017] When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the vehicle will lose power.

[0018] The specific steps for controlling the vehicle by manually operating the unmanned start switch when the vehicle is to be driven autonomously include:

[0019] When the vehicle is to be driven autonomously, if the key for the start switch is not in the car, the start switch needs to be turned to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system and autonomous driving system are powered on. At this time, the instrument mode indicator light is flashing. The vehicle controller and instrument do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch, nor do they respond to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. The power battery, motor controller and drive motor are not working.

[0020] When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position and the key remains in the START position for a period of time longer than a preset threshold, the vehicle controller receives the autonomous driving signal, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel. At this time, the instrument panel mode indicator light is constantly on. The vehicle controller will not respond to the gear position signal given by the throttle switch, nor will it respond to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle. The vehicle controller will send the gear position signal and vehicle speed signal back to the instrument panel according to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. At the same time, it will control the motor controller and the power battery to start working, drive the drive motor to work, and realize the vehicle's forward and reverse movement.

[0021] When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the vehicle will lose power.

[0022] The preset threshold time is 5 seconds.

[0023] This invention provides an anti-theft system and method for autonomous vehicles, preventing the theft of vehicles that are being driven at low speeds when the vehicle is in use and the key is in the car. This allows for the possibility of someone chasing the vehicle, disabling the autonomous driving system, and then driving it elsewhere. Keeping the ignition key in the vehicle also prevents the driver from failing to disconnect the vehicle's power after use, which could lead to a depleted battery and affect future use. This invention not only improves vehicle safety but also enhances vehicle reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of an anti-theft method for autonomous driving vehicles according to the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4This is a flowchart illustrating how, when a vehicle of the present invention is to be driven by a human, the vehicle is controlled by manually operating a human start switch.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating how the vehicle of the present invention is controlled by manually operating an unmanned start switch when it is to be driven autonomously.

[0030] 1-Upper body system, 2-Vehicle controller, 3-Manned start switch, 4-Unmanned start switch, 5-Instrument, 6-Throttle switch, 7-Power battery, 8-Motor controller, 9-Drive motor. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Please see Figures 1-2 ,in, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles according to the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles according to the present invention.

[0032] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles, including an upper structure system 1, a vehicle controller 2, a manned start switch 3, an unmanned start switch 4, an instrument panel 5, a throttle switch 6, a power battery 7, a motor controller 8, and a drive motor 9; the aforementioned solution can prevent theft of autonomous vehicles at low speeds during autonomous driving.

[0033] In this specific embodiment, the vehicle controller 2 is connected to the superstructure system 1; the manned start switch 3 is connected to the vehicle controller 2; the unmanned start switch 4 is connected to the vehicle controller 2; the instrument panel 5 is connected to the vehicle controller 2; the throttle switch 6 is connected to the vehicle controller 2; the power battery 7 is connected to the vehicle controller 2; the motor controller 8 is connected to both the vehicle controller 2 and the power battery 7; and the drive motor 9 is connected to the motor controller 8. The manned start switch 3 and the unmanned start switch 4 each have two separate keys and cannot be used interchangeably. The manned start switch 3 and the unmanned start switch 4 are located on the right-side cover of the driver's seat; the vehicle controller 2 is located below the left-side cover of the driver's seat; the power battery 7 is located directly below the driver's seat; the motor controller 8 is located between the driver's seat and the power battery 7; the instrument panel 5 is located on the handlebars of the driver's seat; the throttle switch 6 is located on the right-hand handlebar; and the drive motor 9 is located on the lower right side of the rear rack. The start switch has three positions: OFF, ON, and START. It automatically resets from "ON" to "STAR". The key can only be removed in the OFF position, and the start switch is initially in the OFF position. The throttle switch 6 consists of a P-gear switch, a R-gear switch, a N-gear switch, a D-gear switch, and an electronic throttle. The upper structure system 1 consists of an autonomous control computing unit (B-box), a combined navigation controller (N-box), a lidar, and a camera. All of these components use existing technologies. During autonomous driving, the vehicle is responsible for transmitting information such as forward movement, reversing, acceleration, deceleration, parking, and steering to the vehicle controller 2 via CAN. The autonomous control computing unit (B-box) is responsible for autonomous driving calculations; the combined navigation controller (N-box) is responsible for the global path and assists the vehicle in lane changing and obstacle avoidance; the lidar is responsible for detecting distance, orientation, altitude, and speed during autonomous driving; and the camera is responsible for image capture during autonomous driving.

[0034] When using this invention, if the vehicle is to be driven by a person, turn the start switch 3 to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system is powered on, but the autonomous driving system is not. At this time, the mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 is flashing. The vehicle controller 2 and the instrument panel 5 do not respond to the gear position signal given by the throttle switch 6. The power battery 7, motor controller 8, and drive motor 9 are not working. When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position, and the key remains in the START position for more than 5 seconds, the vehicle controller 2 receives a signal indicating that the vehicle is being driven, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel 5. At this time, the mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 is turned off. The vehicle controller 2 and the instrument panel 5 respond to the gear position signal given by the throttle switch 6. Simultaneously, the vehicle controller 2 responds to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle, thereby controlling the motor controller 8 and the power battery 7 to start working, driving the drive motor 9 to work, realizing the forward and reverse movement of the vehicle. When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the entire vehicle is powered off.

[0035] When the vehicle is to engage autonomous driving, if the key for the manned start switch 3 is not in the vehicle, the unmanned start switch 4 needs to be turned to the ON position, energizing the vehicle chassis system and the autonomous driving system. At this time, the mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 flashes. The vehicle controller 2 and instrument panel 5 do not respond to the gear position signal from the throttle switch 6, nor do they respond to commands issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. The power battery 7, motor controller 8, and drive motor 9 are not operational. When the unmanned start switch 4 is turned from the ON position to the START position, and the key remains in the START position for more than 5 seconds, the vehicle controller 2 receives the autonomous driving signal, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel 5. At this time, the mode indicator light on instrument panel 5 remains constantly lit. The vehicle controller 2 does not respond to the gear position signal from the throttle switch 6, nor does it respond to the acceleration signal from the electronic throttle. The vehicle controller 2, based on the commands issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system, sends gear and speed signals back to the instrument panel 5, and simultaneously controls the motor controller 8 and power battery 7 to start working, driving the drive motor 9 to achieve forward and reverse movement of the vehicle. When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the vehicle will lose power.

[0036] When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, pressing the brake pedal will exit the autonomous driving mode. The vehicle chassis system and autonomous driving system remain powered on, but the vehicle controller 2 will not respond to gear position signals from the throttle switch 6 or the electronic throttle, nor will it issue commands for autonomous driving. The mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 will flash. To re-enter autonomous driving mode, the unmanned start switch 4 must be turned from the ON position to the START position and held for more than 5 seconds. When the driver needs to switch the vehicle from autonomous driving mode to manned driving mode, the key on the manned start switch 3 is required to switch the vehicle to manned mode and drive it. This invention prevents the vehicle from being overtaken and losing its autonomous driving system due to low vehicle speed and the key being in the car. Having the start switch key in the vehicle prevents the driver from failing to power down the vehicle after use, which could lead to a depleted power battery 7 and the storage battery, affecting future use. This invention not only improves vehicle safety but also enhances vehicle reliability.

[0037] Secondly, please refer to Figures 3-5 ,in, Figure 3 This is a flowchart of an anti-theft method for autonomous driving vehicles according to the present invention. Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating how, when a vehicle needs to be driven by a person, control of the vehicle is achieved by manually operating a manned start switch. Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating how the vehicle of the present invention is controlled by manually operating an unmanned start switch when it is to be driven autonomously.

[0038] This invention also provides a method for preventing theft of autonomous vehicles, comprising:

[0039] S1 has three positions: OFF, ON, and START on the 3rd and 4th switches respectively. It can automatically reset from the ON position to the STAR position. The key can only be removed in the OFF position. The 3rd and 4th switches are initially in the OFF position.

[0040] The S2 has a P-gear switch, R-gear switch, N-gear switch, D-gear switch and electronic throttle on the throttle switch 6.

[0041] When the S3 vehicle needs to be driven by a man, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the manned start switch 3.

[0042] The specific steps include:

[0043] When the S31 vehicle is to be driven by a man, turn the manned start switch 3 to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system is powered on, but the autonomous driving system is not powered on. The mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 is flashing. The vehicle controller 2 and the instrument panel 5 do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch 6. The power battery 7, the motor controller 8, and the drive motor 9 do not work.

[0044] When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position and the key stays in the START position for more than a preset threshold time, the vehicle controller 2 receives a signal that someone is driving, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel 5. At this time, the mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 is in the off state. The vehicle controller 2 and the instrument panel 5 respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch 6. At the same time, the vehicle controller 2 responds to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle, controls the motor controller 8 and the power battery 7 to start working, drives the drive motor 9 to work, and realizes the forward and reverse movement of the vehicle.

[0045] The preset threshold time is 5 seconds.

[0046] When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the S33 key can be removed, and the entire vehicle will lose power.

[0047] When the S4 vehicle needs to be driven autonomously, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the unmanned start switch 4.

[0048] The specific steps include:

[0049] When the S41 vehicle is to be driven autonomously, if the key of the start switch 3 is not in the vehicle, the start switch 4 needs to be turned to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system and autonomous driving system are powered on. At this time, the mode indicator light on the instrument panel 5 is flashing. The vehicle controller 2 and the instrument panel 5 do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch 6, nor do they respond to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. The power battery 7, motor controller 8 and drive motor 9 are not working.

[0050] When the unmanned start switch 4 is turned from the ON position to the START position and the key stays in the START position for more than a preset threshold time, the vehicle controller 2 receives the autonomous driving signal, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel 5. At this time, the mode indicator light of the instrument panel 5 is in a constant state. The vehicle controller 2 will not respond to the gear position signal given by the throttle switch 6, nor will it respond to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle. The vehicle controller 2 will send the gear position signal and vehicle speed signal back to the instrument panel 5 according to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. At the same time, it will control the motor controller 8 and the power battery 7 to start working, drive the drive motor 9 to work, and realize the forward and reverse movement of the vehicle.

[0051] When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the S43 key can be removed, and the entire vehicle will lose power.

[0052] S5 When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, pressing the brake pedal will exit the autonomous driving mode. If the vehicle needs to enter autonomous driving mode again, the unmanned start switch 4 needs to be turned from the ON position to the START position and held for more than a preset threshold time. When the driver needs to switch the vehicle from autonomous driving mode to manned driving mode, the key of the manned start switch 3 is required to switch the vehicle to manned mode and drive the vehicle. The preset threshold time is 5 seconds.

[0053] This invention provides an anti-theft method for autonomous vehicles, preventing the theft of vehicles that are driven at low speeds while in autonomous driving mode and with the key in the vehicle. This allows for the possibility of someone chasing the vehicle, disabling the autonomous driving system, and then driving it elsewhere, leading to vehicle loss. Keeping the ignition key in the vehicle prevents the driver from failing to disconnect the vehicle's power after use, thus avoiding depletion of the power battery and storage battery, which could affect future use. This invention not only improves vehicle security but also enhances vehicle reliability.

[0054] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely one or more preferred embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes for implementing the above embodiments and equivalent changes made in accordance with the claims of this application still fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for preventing theft of autonomous vehicles, characterized in that, An anti-theft system for autonomous vehicles is provided, comprising an upper structure system, a vehicle controller, a manned start switch, an unmanned start switch, an instrument panel, a throttle switch, a power battery, a motor controller, and a drive motor. The vehicle controller is connected to the superstructure system; the manned start switch is connected to the vehicle controller; the unmanned start switch is connected to the vehicle controller; the instrument panel is connected to the vehicle controller; the throttle switch is connected to the vehicle controller; the power battery is connected to the vehicle controller; the motor controller is connected to both the vehicle controller and the power battery; and the drive motor is connected to the motor controller. The anti-theft method for autonomous vehicles includes: The manned and unmanned start switches are respectively set with three positions: OFF, ON, and START. The switch can automatically reset from the ON position to the STAR position. The key can only be removed in the OFF position. The initial position of the manned and unmanned start switches is the OFF position. The throttle switch is equipped with a P gear switch, a R gear switch, a N gear switch, a D gear switch, and an electronic throttle. When a vehicle needs to be driven by a human, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the human start switch; When the vehicle needs to be driven autonomously, the vehicle can be controlled by manually operating the unmanned start switch; When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, pressing the brake pedal will exit the autonomous driving mode. If the vehicle needs to enter autonomous driving mode, the driver must turn the driverless start switch from the ON position to the START position and hold it for more than a preset threshold time. When the driver needs to switch the vehicle from autonomous driving mode to manned driving mode, a manned start switch key is required to switch the vehicle to manned mode and drive the vehicle.

2. The anti-theft method for autonomous driving vehicles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the vehicle needs to be driven by a person, the specific steps to control the vehicle by manually operating the manned start switch include: When the vehicle is to be driven by a human, turn the human start switch to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system is powered on, but the autonomous driving system is not powered on. The instrument mode indicator light is flashing. The vehicle controller and instrument do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch. The power battery, motor controller and drive motor do not work. When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position, and the key remains in the START position for a time longer than a preset threshold, the vehicle controller receives a signal indicating that someone is driving, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel. At this time, the instrument panel mode indicator is off. The vehicle controller and the instrument panel respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch. At the same time, the vehicle controller responds to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle, controls the motor controller and the power battery to start working, drives the drive motor to work, and realizes the vehicle's forward and reverse movement. When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the vehicle will lose power.

3. The anti-theft method for autonomous driving vehicles as described in claim 2, characterized in that, When the vehicle is to be driven autonomously, the specific steps for controlling the vehicle by manually operating the unmanned start switch include: When the vehicle is to be driven autonomously, if the key for the start switch is not in the car, the start switch needs to be turned to the ON position. The entire vehicle chassis system and autonomous driving system are powered on. At this time, the instrument mode indicator light is flashing. The vehicle controller and instrument do not respond to the gear signal given by the throttle switch, nor do they respond to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. The power battery, motor controller and drive motor are not working. When the start switch is turned from the ON position to the START position and the key remains in the START position for a period of time longer than a preset threshold, the vehicle controller receives the autonomous driving signal, makes a judgment, and sends feedback to the instrument panel. At this time, the instrument panel mode indicator light is constantly on. The vehicle controller will not respond to the gear position signal given by the throttle switch, nor will it respond to the acceleration signal given by the electronic throttle. The vehicle controller will send the gear position signal and vehicle speed signal back to the instrument panel according to the instructions issued by the autonomous driving system to the chassis system. At the same time, it will control the motor controller and the power battery to start working, drive the drive motor to work, and realize the vehicle's forward and reverse movement. When the driver turns the key from the ON position to the OFF position, the key can be removed, and the vehicle will lose power.

4. The anti-theft method for autonomous driving vehicles as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The preset threshold time is 5 seconds.

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