Autonomous Vehicle Obstacle Maneuvering via Sensor View Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating around double-parked cars and other obstacles that obstruct their view, hindering their ability to monitor oncoming traffic effectively.

Innovation Solution

The system employs sensors like radar and lidar to detect obstacles, position the vehicle to improve its view without obstructing oncoming traffic, and determine a secondary path to circumnavigate the obstacle, monitoring for clearance before proceeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle stays in its lane to avoid the obstacle, then collision with the obstacle is avoided, but the view of oncoming traffic in the adjacent lane is occluded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidview of oncoming traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle transitions from a two-dimensional lane-keeping approach to a three-dimensional maneuver that utilizes vertical positioning (positioning partially beyond the lane line) and temporal dimensions (monitoring before and during the maneuver) to simultaneously maintain collision avoidance and restore visual access to oncoming traffic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If the vehicle positions itself beyond the lane line to improve view of oncoming traffic, then visibility is improved, but obstruction of the adjacent lane increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of oncoming trafficVSAvoidobstruction of adjacent lane

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle applies local quality by positioning only a portion of its body beyond the lane line rather than fully crossing into the adjacent lane, thereby achieving sufficient visual exposure to oncoming traffic while minimizing obstruction to the adjacent lane

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle performs partial action by extending only partially beyond the lane line - enough to improve sensor view of oncoming traffic but not so much as to significantly obstruct the adjacent lane, finding the optimal intermediate position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the vehicle aborts the maneuver when obstacle moves, then safety is maintained, but navigation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidnavigation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing commitment criteria before initiating the maneuver, allowing it to quickly determine whether to proceed or abort based on pre-defined safety thresholds, thereby maintaining safety while enabling efficient decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring obstacle movement and comparing it against commitment thresholds, allowing dynamic adjustment of the maneuver based on real-time conditions - aborting when safety is compromised but proceeding when conditions permit, thus balancing safety and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach allows autonomous vehicles to safely maneuver around obstacles, maintaining visibility of oncoming traffic and ensuring safe navigation without significantly disrupting the flow of oncoming vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

receiving, via one or more sensing devices, sensor data relating to an environment associated with a vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

measuring, via lidar sensor data, a distance between opposing edges of the obstacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLidar: LIDAR

Data Source

PatentUS10331135B2Systems and methods for maneuvering around obstacles in autonomous vehicles

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, an obstacle management method includes receiving, via sensing devices, sensor data relating to an environment associated with a vehicle, and determining, with the sensor data, the presence of an obstacle that at least partially obstructs an intended path of the vehicle in a first lane adjacent to a second lane and at least partially occludes a view of the second lane by a first sensing device. The method further includes positioning the vehicle with respect to the obstacle to improve the view of the second lane by the first sensing device without significantly obstructing the second lane, determining a second path that circumnavigates the obstacle and rejoins the intended path, and monitoring the opposing lane via the first sensing device to determine when the second path is clear.