Modular Autonomous Vehicle Control for Emergency Module Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular vehicle systems are cumbersome to disassemble and maintain, especially in emergency situations, leading to potential safety risks and environmental impacts when a module fails, and there is a need for quick and efficient rescue of passengers and modules.
Innovation Solution
A safety method utilizing a control device in modular vehicles to detect emergency situations and autonomously disconnect affected modules from the assembled vehicle, allowing for quick disassembly and minimizing environmental impact, with the ability to transmit information to a control center for emergency response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual disassembly of modular vehicles is used, then vehicle flexibility and customization are improved, but disassembly time and operational complexity increase significantly during emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into independent modular units (drive module, passenger module, cargo module) that can be automatically separated. Each module has standardized connection interfaces that enable rapid automated disconnection, resolving the contradiction between vehicle flexibility and disassembly time by making modules independently separable without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated disconnection mechanisms and emergency separation systems are pre-configured in the modular vehicle structure. The control systems and physical separation mechanisms are prepared in advance, allowing immediate automated disassembly when emergency situations occur, eliminating the need for manual disassembly during critical moments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular vehicle systems are designed for easy reconfiguration, then vehicle adaptability improves, but system complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular vehicle system performs reconfiguration and disconnection operations autonomously without human intervention. The control systems automatically detect emergency situations, coordinate module separation, and manage resource allocation, making the complex modular system easy to operate through automated self-service functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Standardized universal connection interfaces are designed for all module types, allowing the same connection and disconnection mechanisms to work across different module combinations. This universality simplifies operation while maintaining high adaptability, as the same automated systems handle various reconfiguration scenarios.
3Productivity
If modules are physically connected in a modular vehicle, then vehicle functionality is improved, but safety risks increase when emergency situations occur in one module
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency module is automatically extracted and separated from the vehicle system when failures or emergencies are detected. The automated disconnection system isolates the problematic module (e.g., drive module with propulsion failures) from the rest of the vehicle, preventing failure propagation and protecting passengers and functional modules.
Solution Approach 2:
Automated control systems and separation mechanisms act as intermediaries between module detection and physical disconnection. These intermediary systems coordinate the separation process, ensuring safe and controlled detachment of emergency modules while protecting the rest of the vehicle system.
4Reliability
If automated emergency disconnection systems are implemented, then safety and response time are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple emergency response functions (detection, decision-making, actuation, communication) are merged into integrated control systems within each module. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive emergency response capabilities, as the same integrated system handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety method, performed by a control device for a vehicle assembled from a set of modules, the vehicle including at least two modules, including at least one drive module and at least one functional module. The control device is in any of the at least two modules. The at least one drive module has a pair of wheels and is configured to be autonomously operated. The method includes detecting (s101) an emergency situation in any of the at least two modules of the assembled vehicle, transmitting (s102) information about the detected emergency situation to a control center and controlling (s103) the module associated with the emergency situation to physically disconnect from the assembled vehicle. Also to a computer program, a computer-readable medium, a control device and a vehicle are included.