Autonomous Driving Transition Control for Driver Visibility Assurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle controllers fail to ensure driver visibility during autonomous driving control when the windshield wiper is set to manual mode, potentially leading to situations where control transfer to the driver is necessary but visibility is not guaranteed.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller that includes a situation determination unit to assess whether the vehicle is in a suitable condition for autonomous driving and a transition determination unit to manage the switch between driving modes, ensuring visibility by automatically controlling devices like windshield wipers, headlights, and air conditioners based on sensors and weather information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the windshield wiper is set to manual mode to allow driver control, then the driver has manual control of the device, but the driver's visibility will not be ensured unless the device operates automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the operating mode of visibility-related devices (windshield wiper, headlights, air conditioner) and uses this feedback to determine whether to permit transitions from manual to autonomous driving control. The system reads the operating mode information and uses it as a condition for allowing control transition, ensuring that manual control is maintained when visibility cannot be ensured.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller checks the operating mode of visibility-related devices before allowing a transition to autonomous driving control. By performing this check in advance (prior to transition), the system prevents transitions that would occur when visibility cannot be ensured, thereby proactively maintaining safety rather than reacting after a problem occurs.
2Extent of automation
If the controller switches to autonomous driving control when visibility conditions are not met, then autonomous driving control is activated, but the driver's visibility is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from the operating mode information of visibility-related devices to make decisions about permitting autonomous driving control transitions. The system continuously monitors device modes and uses this information to dynamically control whether transitions are allowed, ensuring automation only activates when visibility requirements are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the driver's intent to switch to autonomous mode and the actual transition execution. By inserting this control layer that checks visibility conditions, the system mediates the transition process to prevent unsafe switches, blocking transitions when device operating modes indicate visibility cannot be ensured.
3Productivity
If the controller permits transition to autonomous driving control without checking device operating modes, then control transition is flexible and quick, but visibility may not be ensured when control needs to be transferred back to driver
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs a preliminary check of device operating modes before permitting transitions to autonomous driving control. This advance verification ensures that visibility conditions are met before automation activates, preventing future visibility issues while maintaining efficient transitions by using pre-checked information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from device operating mode sensors to dynamically control transition permissions. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to quickly assess whether visibility conditions are satisfied and make immediate decisions about permitting transitions, maintaining both speed and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle controller includes a situation determination unit 31 that determines whether a vehicle 1 under manual driving control is in a situation that allows for starting autonomous driving control of the vehicle 1, and a transition determination unit 32 that switches, when the vehicle 1 is in a situation that allows for starting autonomous driving control, control of the vehicle 1 from manual driving control to autonomous driving control in the case where operating mode of a device (16, 17, or 19) related to ensuring visibility of a driver of the vehicle 1 is set to automatic mode to automatically control the device. The transition determination unit 32 continues manual driving control in the case where the operating mode of the device (16, 17, or 19) related to ensuring the driver's visibility is set to manual mode to manually control the device and where the driver's visibility will not be ensured unless the device operates.