Adaptive Door Actuator Control for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in optimizing door actuator operations due to varying environmental and passenger-specific conditions, such as geographic location, detected objects, and occupant accessibility, which can affect safe and efficient door opening processes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling door actuators in autonomous vehicles that adjust baseline instructions based on real-time data from sensors and geographic location, occupant status, detected objects, and motion inside the vehicle, allowing for adaptive door opening rates and distances, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed baseline instruction is used for door opening, then the control system is simple and reliable, but the system cannot adapt to varying environmental and passenger conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of door opening parameters by modifying the baseline instruction based on real-time sensor data. The system transitions from a static fixed instruction to a dynamic adaptive instruction that changes according to environmental conditions (obstacles, weather) and passenger characteristics (accessibility needs, motion detection), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of the door opening instruction including opening speed, opening distance, and timing based on detected conditions. When obstacles are detected, the opening speed is reduced; when accessibility needs are identified, the opening distance is adjusted; when passenger motion is detected, the timing is modified. This parameter adaptation enables versatility while maintaining a relatively simple control architecture.
2Ease of operation
If the door opens at a fixed speed and distance, then the actuator operation is simple and reliable, but the system cannot optimize for different passenger accessibility needs or environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple sensors to continuously monitor environmental conditions and passenger status, feeding this information back to the control system. The feedback loop enables the system to adjust door opening parameters in real-time based on detected obstacles, weather conditions, passenger accessibility needs, and motion detection, thereby optimizing ease of operation for diverse scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of conditions before executing the door opening action. By detecting obstacles, evaluating passenger accessibility needs, and monitoring motion in advance of the door opening event, the system can pre-calculate optimal opening parameters (speed, distance, timing) to ensure safe and easy passenger entry and exit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the door opening instruction is adjusted based on multiple real-time conditions, then the system becomes highly adaptive, but the processing complexity and response time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and assessment of multiple conditions (obstacles, weather, passenger accessibility, motion) before the door opening event occurs. By gathering and processing this data in advance, the system establishes a baseline understanding of the environment and passenger needs, enabling faster real-time adjustments when the actual door opening is commanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic adjustment mechanisms that can rapidly modify door opening parameters based on real-time condition changes. The control system maintains a baseline instruction and applies dynamic modifications only when conditions warrant changes, balancing comprehensive adaptability with efficient processing by avoiding unnecessary recalculations for every parameter.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method for controlling an actuator for a door of an autonomous vehicle comprises obtaining data pertaining to a current ride of an autonomous vehicle during operation of the autonomous vehicle; identifying, via a processor using the data, whether one or more circumstances are present that would require an adjustment of a baseline instruction for an automatic opening of the door by the autonomous vehicle via the actuator based on instructions provided to the actuator by the processor; determining an adjustment of the baseline instruction when one or more of the circumstances are present; receiving a request to open the door; and, upon receiving the request: providing the baseline instruction for the actuator to open the door, when none of the circumstances are present; and providing an alternate instruction for the actuator, based on the adjustment, when one or more of the circumstances are present.