Automated Vehicle Digital Environment Model Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating automated vehicles requires numerous resource-intensive and costly test drives to simulate real conditions, especially for testing reactions to secondary road users like blocker vehicles, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a digital environment model using environment data and a digital map, incorporating both actual and simulated vehicles to simulate scenarios, allowing for efficient testing and reduced resource usage by avoiding the need for physical test courses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If numerous real test drives are conducted to test automated vehicle reactions to road users, then testing reliability is improved, but resource consumption and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of road users (blocker vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists) and test environments through digital simulation. These virtual objects replicate the behavior and characteristics of real road users, allowing comprehensive testing without physical presence. The simulation environment reproduces various traffic scenarios, enabling repeated testing of automated vehicle reactions to different road user types while consuming minimal physical resources.
2Measurement precision
If physical test courses are blocked off for testing, then testing accuracy is improved, but availability for other uses decreases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual simulation environment as an intermediary between the automated vehicle and the physical test course. The simulation layer reproduces test scenarios digitally, allowing accurate testing of automated vehicle responses without physically blocking the test course. This intermediary approach maintains testing accuracy while preserving the physical course's availability for other purposes, as virtual test objects can be deployed and removed without physical infrastructure occupation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If many simulated objects are introduced into the digital environment model, then scenario coverage is improved, but model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the simulation environment into distinct functional modules: digital map data, detected real vehicles, and simulated test objects (blocker vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists). Each segment can be independently configured, added, or removed based on testing requirements. This modular segmentation allows comprehensive scenario coverage through combination of different object types while managing overall model complexity through structured organization and independent control of each segment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for operating an automated vehicle are provided. The method includes a step of receiving a first position of the automated vehicle, a step of receiving environment data values, the environment data values representing an environment of the automated vehicle, a step of detecting at least one further vehicle in the environment of the automated vehicle, and a step of generating a digital environment model, starting from a digital map, based on the environment data values and as a function of the first position of the automated vehicle. The environment model comprises the automated vehicle, the at least one further vehicle, and at least one simulated object in the environment of the automated vehicle. The method also includes a step of operating the automated vehicle as a function of the digital environment model.