Autonomous Delivery Vehicle Remote Control Under Sensor Impairment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles face challenges in ensuring safe operation, particularly in unusual environmental conditions, and lack mechanisms for engaging human operators, managing unauthorized passengers, and providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of computer-implemented methods and systems that enable remote control of autonomous vehicles, detect and remove unauthorized passengers, assist individuals with disabilities, and integrate environmental data with extended reality experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autonomous operation features are used to control the vehicle, then operator safety is improved, but the vehicle becomes vulnerable to environmental conditions and sensor impairment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidenvironmental conditions affecting autonomous operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A remote entity acts as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle and the environment, receiving sensor data from the vehicle and sending control commands back to the vehicle when environmental conditions impair autonomous operation. This mediator enables continuous safe operation despite fog, heavy rain, or sensor damage by allowing human operators to take control remotely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is segmented into multiple levels: autonomous operation for normal conditions, remote human operator intervention for impaired conditions, and local human operator backup. This segmentation allows the system to switch between different control modes based on environmental conditions, maintaining reliability while adapting to varying operational contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle switches from autonomous mode to manual mode during malfunction, then operational flexibility is improved, but response time may be delayed if no human operator is available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode switching capabilityVSAvoidresponse time during malfunction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Human operators are engaged and kept ready during autonomous operation through preliminary actions such as monitoring systems and maintaining communication channels. This ensures that when a malfunction occurs and mode switching is required, operators are already prepared and can take control immediately, eliminating response delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback between the autonomous vehicle and remote human operators, providing real-time status information and enabling rapid response to malfunctions. This feedback loop ensures operators are aware of vehicle conditions and can intervene promptly when switching from autonomous to manual mode is necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If registration information is stored in the vehicle for law enforcement access, then information availability is improved, but security and unauthorized access risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of vehicle informationVSAvoidsecurity risks from unauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A secure communication system acts as an intermediary between law enforcement and the vehicle's registration information. This intermediary establishes authenticated communication channels, verifying the identity and authority of law enforcement officers before allowing access to vehicle information, thereby preventing unauthorized access while maintaining information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different levels of information access are provided to different entities based on their authorization. Law enforcement officers with proper credentials receive full registration information, while unauthorized users receive no information or only public information. This local quality approach ensures security while maintaining necessary information availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If the vehicle operates fully autonomously without passengers, then operational efficiency is improved, but the ability to handle emergencies and unauthorized passengers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidemergency response capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A remote monitoring and control system serves as an intermediary that enables fully autonomous operation while maintaining emergency response capability. The system monitors vehicle conditions and can dispatch human operators or take control remotely when emergencies or unauthorized passengers are detected, combining the efficiency of autonomous operation with the reliability of human intervention when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12291166B2Autonomous vehicle delivery

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

Autonomous vehicle methods and systems are described herein for communicating with an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to remotely control operation of the vehicle, to detect and remove unauthorized passengers, to deliver loads, to receive registration information for the vehicle, to provide accessibility information to the vehicle, and/or to receive sensor or other environmental data to integrate with an electronic game or other extended reality experience.