Autonomous Vehicle Heads-Up Display for Adverse Terrain Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating through adverse weather conditions and off-road environments due to limitations in modern computer vision and sensor fusion systems, which can lead to situations where human intervention is necessary for safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A road condition heads-up display system that uses a combination of cameras, sensors, and augmented reality to provide the driver with real-time information about the road conditions, allowing them to take control and guide the vehicle through obscured or uncertain terrain, and then resume autonomous operation once safe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicle operation is implemented using modern computer vision and sensor fusion systems, then vehicle automation capability is improved, but the system fails to cope with bad weather conditions and off-road environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary human operator who can take control of the vehicle when the autonomous system encounters adverse conditions. The system includes a user interface that allows the human to intervene and provide guidance, serving as a mediator between the autonomous system and the vehicle control, thereby maintaining reliability in conditions where the autonomous system struggles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between autonomous and manual control modes based on environmental conditions. The vehicle control system can switch from fully autonomous operation to human-operated mode when sensors detect adverse conditions such as snow, fog, or off-road terrain, allowing the operational mode to adapt to changing circumstances.
2Productivity
If the vehicle operates in autonomous mode, then productivity is improved, but the system cannot handle unpredictable situations requiring human judgment
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions and provide information to the control system. When unpredictable situations are detected, the system provides feedback to switch to manual mode, allowing the human operator to handle situations that fall outside the autonomous system's programming while maintaining efficient autonomous operation for predictable conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system transitions from autonomous to manual control, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time occurs during mode switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring environmental conditions and preparing for potential mode transitions. Sensors detect adverse conditions in advance, allowing the system to proactively switch to manual mode before the autonomous system completely fails, reducing the time loss associated with emergency transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods for providing a road condition heads up display system are provided herein. A road condition heads up display system, includes: a video display to present imagery captured by a camera system, the imagery including terrain around an autonomous vehicle, the terrain including a driving surface on which the autonomous vehicle operates; a vehicle control system coupled to the camera system and the video processor, the vehicle control system to: operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode; recognize a non-navigable portion of the terrain around the autonomous vehicle; present an augmented reality user interface on the video display, the augmented reality user interface used by an occupant of the autonomous vehicle to indicate a waypoint; and operate the autonomous vehicle in a non-autonomous mode according to the user input.