Autonomous Driving Data Storage Switching for Limited On-Board Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The limited capacity of on-board storage in autonomous vehicles poses a challenge for storing autonomous driving data, as storing all data is desirable for verification but not feasible due to space constraints.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle switches between an all-storage mode and a partial-storage mode based on available storage capacity, with the all-storage mode storing all data when capacity is sufficient and the partial-storage mode storing only essential data for reproduction when capacity is limited, effectively utilizing the limited storage area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all autonomous driving data is stored in the on-board storage, then the completeness of verification data is improved, but the storage capacity is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of verification dataVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments autonomous driving data into multiple categories based on verification importance: essential data (required for reproduction), important data (useful for verification), and other data (less critical). The storage system selectively stores different segments based on available capacity, ensuring essential data is always preserved while optimizing use of limited storage space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different storage priorities to different portions of data. Essential data marked with higher priority levels is guaranteed storage space, while lower priority data is stored only when capacity permits. This creates a quality gradient in storage allocation that maintains verification capability within capacity constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the storage mode is switched based on available capacity, then the effective utilization of storage area is improved, but the complexity of storage management is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffective utilization of storage areaVSAvoidcomplexity of storage management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic storage mode switching based on real-time monitoring of available storage capacity. When capacity exceeds a threshold, the system operates in full storage mode; when below the threshold, it switches to selective storage mode. This dynamic adaptation optimizes storage utilization without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors storage capacity and uses this feedback to automatically adjust storage behavior. The capacity threshold triggers mode transitions, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal storage utilization while simplifying management through automation rather than complex manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4485401A1Autonomous driving vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4485401A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4485401A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4485401A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The vehicle of the present disclosure stores autonomous driving data generated during execution of autonomous driving and switch a storage mode according to an available capacity of a storage area for storing the autonomous driving data. The storage mode includes an all-storage mode and a partial-storage mode. The all-storage mode is a mode that is selected when the available capacity of the storage area is equal to or larger than a threshold value, and is a mode for storing all of the autonomous driving data. The partial-storage mode is a mode that is selected when the available capacity of the storage area is less than the threshold value, and is a mode for storing only a part of the autonomous driving data. The part of the autonomous driving data stored in the partial-storage mode includes data for reproducing autonomous driving.