Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Control for Mode Switching Irregularities
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicle transportation systems, mode switching from autonomous to manual driving can cause irregularities in the operations of other vehicles running in autonomous mode, particularly when a vehicle switches back to autonomous mode after temporarily switching to manual driving to avoid obstacles.
Innovation Solution
An operation control apparatus that sends instructions to maintain a constant time interval for vehicles passing selected points on a route, receives notifications of mode changes, and adjusts operations to ensure that vehicles in autonomous mode maintain their designated positions and times, even when another vehicle switches between driving modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle switches from autonomous driving mode to manual driving mode to avoid obstacles, then the vehicle can handle unexpected situations flexibly, but irregularities occur in the operations of other vehicles running in autonomous mode
Solution Approach 1:
The operation control apparatus receives notification of mode switching in advance and proactively adjusts operation instructions to other vehicles before irregularities occur. When a vehicle switches from autonomous to manual mode, the control apparatus immediately recalculates and sends updated position and time designations to other vehicles, preventing operational disruptions before they affect the fleet's regularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the operation control apparatus continuously monitors driving mode status of all vehicles. When mode switching is detected, the control apparatus uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust operation instructions, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains fleet operational regularity despite individual vehicle mode changes.
2Reliability
If the operation control apparatus frequently adjusts designated positions and times for vehicles in autonomous mode, then operational regularity is maintained, but system complexity and control burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The operation control apparatus extracts and isolates the vehicle that has switched to manual mode from the autonomous fleet control loop. By identifying and separating this vehicle, the system adjusts operation instructions only for the remaining autonomous vehicles, reducing the overall control complexity while maintaining operational regularity for the autonomous portion of the fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus maintains a set period of time buffer when adjusting operations after mode switching. During this buffer period, adjustments are made proactively to prevent cascading effects, reducing the frequency and magnitude of subsequent adjustments needed, thereby lowering overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If the vehicle switches back to autonomous driving mode after manual driving, then autonomous operation efficiency is restored, but other vehicles experience operational irregularities due to previous mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
When a vehicle switches back from manual to autonomous mode, the operation control apparatus receives this feedback and evaluates the current operational state of the fleet. Based on this feedback, the control apparatus determines whether additional adjustments to operation instructions are necessary to maintain consistency, allowing efficient restoration of autonomous operation while preventing irregularities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus implements a set period of time monitoring window after mode switching events. When a vehicle switches back to autonomous mode within this window, the apparatus proactively adjusts operations in advance to prevent irregularities before they manifest, ensuring both productivity restoration and operational consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation control apparatus executes sending operation instructions to vehicles running in an autonomous driving mode such that a time interval at which the vehicles running in the autonomous driving mode pass a selected point in a route is substantially constant, receiving, from any one vehicle running in the autonomous driving mode, a notification that the vehicle switches into a manual driving mode in response to an instruction of a boarding staff, and sending operation instructions to the vehicle having switched into the manual driving mode and the vehicle that continues running in the autonomous driving mode such that a time interval at which the vehicle having switched into the manual driving mode and the vehicle that continues running in the autonomous driving mode pass a selected point in the route is substantially constant in a set time from when the operation control apparatus has received the notification.