Autonomous Vehicle Driveway Entry for Opposite-Side Pickups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in determining the best approach to a pickup or drop-off location, particularly when arriving on the opposite side of the street, which can lead to inconvenience for passengers and other road users.
Innovation Solution
The system determines a difficulty score to maneuver the vehicle to the adjacent lane and compares it to a predetermined threshold, deciding whether to enter an available driveway on the same side of the street as the location, thereby optimizing convenience and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the autonomous vehicle arrives in the lane on the opposite side of the street as the location, then the vehicle can reach the destination efficiently following the traffic flow, but the passenger convenience deteriorates due to increased crossing distance and wait time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of driveway availability and maneuverability before finalizing the arrival plan. By evaluating the difficulty score of maneuvering to the adjacent lane in advance and comparing it with the predetermined threshold, the system can proactively decide to use an alternative driveway on the same side of the street, thereby avoiding the problem of opposite-side arrival before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the arrival strategy based on real-time conditions. By calculating the difficulty score based on current traffic conditions, driveway availability, and vehicle dimensions, the system can adaptively choose between arriving in the adjacent lane or using an alternative driveway, optimizing both productivity and passenger convenience for each specific situation
2Ease of operation
If the autonomous vehicle maneuvers to the lane adjacent to the location on the same side of the street, then the passenger convenience improves by reducing crossing distance, but the maneuvering difficulty increases due to traffic conditions and driveway constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the evaluation parameters by calculating a difficulty score that incorporates multiple factors such as traffic conditions, driveway dimensions, vehicle size, and maneuvering time. By comparing this calculated difficulty score with a predetermined threshold, the system can objectively determine whether the improved passenger convenience justifies the increased maneuvering complexity
3Ease of operation
If the autonomous vehicle enters an available driveway on the same side of the street as the location, then the passenger convenience improves and crossing distance is reduced, but the risk of blocking traffic or causing inconvenience to other road users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring traffic conditions and evaluating the impact of potential driveway maneuvers on other road users. The difficulty score calculation includes factors related to traffic blocking and inconvenience to other users, allowing the system to receive feedback on potential harmful effects and adjust the arrival strategy accordingly to minimize negative impacts
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide for controlling an autonomous vehicle to enter a driveway. As an example, an instruction to pickup or drop off a passenger at a location may be received. It may be determined that the vehicle is arriving in a lane on an opposite side of a street as the location, the lane having a traffic direction opposite to a traffic direction of a lane adjacent to the location. A difficulty score to maneuver the vehicle to the lane adjacent to the location may be determined, and the difficulty score may be compared to a predetermined difficulty score. Based on the comparison, it may be determined to an available driveway on the same side of the street as the location. The vehicle may be controlled to enter the available driveway.