Autonomous Driving Sensor Redundancy for Partial Malfunction Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving systems for transport vehicles, particularly at SAE Automation levels 2 and 3, lack a safe solution to handle partial malfunctions and ensure minimal risk safety maneuvers, especially in scenarios where driver attention is not continuously required.
Innovation Solution
A redundant environment sensor architecture is implemented, where multiple sensors (radar, camera, ultrasonic, and Lidar devices) simultaneously observe the same portion of the environment, providing redundancy and insensitivity to different environmental impacts, enabling safe autonomous operation even after a partial malfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single sensor is used for environment observation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases when partial malfunction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The environment observation function is segmented across multiple sensor types (radar, camera, ultrasonic, Lidar), each observing specific portions of the environment. This segmentation allows the system to maintain observation coverage even when one sensor malfunctions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by distributing the observational load across independent sensor units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by deploying redundant sensors that observe the same or overlapping environment portions. When a sensor malfunction occurs, the redundant sensors provide backup observation data, cushioning against the reliability loss and enabling continued safe operation through minimal risk maneuvers.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors observe the same environment portion, then the reliability improves through redundancy, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (radar, camera, ultrasonic, Lidar) are configured to perform the universal function of environment observation across different portions and conditions. Each sensor type brings unique capabilities (radar for all-weather operation, camera for visual recognition, ultrasonic for close-range detection, Lidar for precise ranging), allowing the system to maintain reliable observation through multi-functional sensor redundancy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different types of sensors are used, then the insensitivity to environmental impacts improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs parameter changes by utilizing sensors that operate on different physical principles and detection parameters. Radar operates on electromagnetic wave reflection, camera on optical absorption, ultrasonic on acoustic wave reflection, and Lidar on laser time-of-flight measurement. This diversity of detection parameters enables the system to adapt to various environmental conditions (darkness, rain, fog) and reduces sensitivity to specific environmental impacts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for reliable and safe autonomous driving, including docking maneuvers, by ensuring that environmental observations can continue uninterrupted even if one sensor malfunctions, maintaining safety and reducing risk.
Implementation Method 1
the first environment sensor is a radar device attached at the rear side of the vehicle such that it looks rearwards
Implementation Method 2
the second environment sensor or one of the second environment sensors is a camera device attached at the rear side of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the second environment sensor or one of the second environment sensors is an ultrasonic sensor device attached at the rear side of the vehicle
Implementation Method 4
the second environment sensor or one of the second environment sensors is a Lidar device attached at the rear side of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A control system (2) for autonomous driving of a vehicle (1) for enabling a safe operation of autonomously driving vehicle (1) is provided, The control system comprises a first environment sensor attached at a specific location of the vehicle (1) configured to observe a specific portion of environments (13) of the vehicle, and at least one second environment sensor attached at any specific location of the vehicle (1) configured to observe at least a portion of the specific portion of environments (13) of the vehicle (1).