Autonomous Vehicle Control Unit Modification via Virtual Scenario Recreation

The patent creates virtual copies of real-world disengagement scenarios by recording actual sensor data from autonomous vehicle disengagement events and reconstructing these scenarios in a virtual environment. This allows the control unit to be tested and modified using authentic real-world data rather than artificially generated test cases, thereby improving both reliability for unexpected situations and adaptability to real-world events.

The patent performs preliminary recording of sensor data during actual disengagement events, storing this data for later analysis and virtual scenario reconstruction. By capturing and preserving real disengagement data in advance, the system can subsequently create accurate virtual representations of these events to improve the control unit's handling of unexpected situations without requiring the original real-world events to recur.

The patent replaces physical road testing with virtual simulation by transferring recorded real-world sensor data into a virtual environment where scenarios can be reproduced and tested computationally. This substitution of mechanical/physical testing with digital simulation dramatically reduces development time while maintaining or improving safety validation, as virtual scenarios can be executed rapidly and iteratively without the constraints of real-world testing.

The patent creates a universal testing framework where a single set of recorded disengagement data can be used to generate multiple virtual scenarios for comprehensive control unit testing. This multi-functional approach allows the same real-world data to serve various testing purposes simultaneously, reducing the overall time and resources needed for extensive safety testing while ensuring thorough validation.