Autonomous Vehicle Refueling Locator System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated driving systems lack the capability to monitor fuel or charge levels, detect nearby refueling or recharging stations, and adjust their routes to ensure sufficient energy for completing a planned path, potentially leading to fuel exhaustion.
Innovation Solution
An automated driving system equipped with sensors and a computing device that determines the required fuel level for a planned path, identifies nearby refueling stations, and either requests driver selection or automatically reroutes to a station if necessary to avoid fuel depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the automated driving system monitors fuel level and automatically navigates to refueling stations, then fuel exhaustion is prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated driving system autonomously monitors its own fuel level, identifies refueling stations, and navigates to them without external intervention. The system uses its existing sensors to detect fuel levels and its navigation system to route to refueling stations, allowing it to service itself and prevent fuel exhaustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors fuel levels and identifies refueling stations before the vehicle runs out of fuel. By detecting the fuel level early and planning the refueling stop in advance, the system prevents the harmful event of fuel exhaustion rather than reacting after it occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides driver selection options for refueling stations, then driver preference is accommodated, but the response time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides refueling station options to the driver but does not require a selection. It performs the partial action of presenting choices while excessive action would be waiting for driver input. The system is designed to proceed with automatic navigation if no selection is made, thus accommodating driver preference without losing significant time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on driver response. If the driver selects a refueling station, the system updates the route accordingly. If no selection is made within a certain time frame, the system automatically proceeds with its own selection, creating a dynamic response that balances driver control with time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated driving system can determine, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path and a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle. If the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, the automated driving system can identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations. If a refueling station selection is received, the automated driving system can update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station. If a refueling station selection is not received, the automated driving system can determine a critical fuel level. If the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, the automated driving system can drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.