Autonomous Driving Fault Handling for Driver Inattention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving systems fail to effectively manage vehicle operation when a driver becomes inattentive or when external conditions necessary for reliable autonomous driving are about to expire, lacking the ability to autonomously maneuver the vehicle to a safe state without human intervention.
Innovation Solution
A state flowchart-based system that monitors driver attentiveness and external conditions, initiating a fault handling and degradation strategy to warn the driver and, if necessary, maneuver the vehicle to a preferred state, such as stopping on the side of the road, if the driver cannot regain control or if conditions for autonomous driving are no longer met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous driving systems rely on driver intervention when conditions deteriorate, then system simplicity is maintained, but safety is compromised when driver attentiveness cannot be regained
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-plans multiple maneuver options (pull over, stop, change lane) before emergencies occur. When conditions deteriorate or driver attentiveness is lost, the system executes pre-contemplated actions without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thereby improving safety while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous driving system performs self-correction by automatically executing maneuvers to reach preferred states when detected issues cannot be resolved through driver intervention alone. The system serves itself by taking autonomous corrective action, improving safety without requiring additional complex external intervention systems
2Reliability
If the system continuously monitors multiple conditions and executes autonomous maneuvers, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring and control system is divided into separate functional modules: condition monitoring module, driver attentiveness detection module, maneuver planning module, and execution module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, improving overall reliability through specialized function while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-identifies preferred states and multiple maneuver options before emergencies occur. This preliminary planning allows the system to respond to complex situations with pre-prepared solutions, improving safety response without requiring complex real-time computation during critical moments
3Ease of operation
If the system waits for driver response before maneuvering, then ease of operation is maintained, but response time to critical situations is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares multiple maneuver options and preferred states in advance. When critical situations arise, the system can immediately execute pre-planned maneuvers without delaying for driver response, reducing response time while maintaining ease of operation under normal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors driver attentiveness and system conditions, providing feedback that triggers autonomous maneuvering when driver response is unlikely or insufficient. This feedback mechanism allows the system to act proactively in critical situations while maintaining driver control during normal operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for ensuring operation of a limited-ability autonomous driving enabled vehicle includes monitoring a plurality of specific conditions necessary for preferred and reliable use of limited-ability autonomous driving, and initiating a fault handling and degradation strategy configured to maneuver the vehicle to a preferred state if the driver is unable to manually control the vehicle when at least one of the specific conditions is either violated or will become violated.