Autonomous Vehicle Signaling Deployment for Roadside Breakdowns
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack the ability to deploy emergency roadside signaling devices without human intervention, posing safety risks and non-compliance with regulations in case of mechanical failures or unplanned stops.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising signaling devices, an object placing device, a processor, and computer-readable memory that determines when an autonomous vehicle has malfunctioned and automatically deploys signaling devices to specific locations on or near the roadway, adhering to regulatory criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles operate without human occupants, then automation level is improved, but safety response capability deteriorates when mechanical failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle performs the signaling device deployment function itself through an automated object placing device, eliminating the need for human occupants while maintaining safety response capability. The system detects malfunctions and automatically deploys signaling devices without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system places signaling devices in advance at predetermined locations relative to the vehicle's position when a malfunction is detected. The processor determines appropriate placement locations based on the vehicle's current position and regulatory requirements before actual deployment occurs.
2Reliability
If manual deployment of signaling devices is required, then safety compliance is improved, but operational complexity increases for autonomous vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The object placing device serves multiple functions: it stores signaling devices, transports them to deployment locations, and places them according to regulatory requirements. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall system architecture while ensuring safety compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical action of deploying signaling devices with an automated mechanical system. The object placing device uses automated mechanisms to transport and place signaling devices, eliminating the need for human physical intervention while maintaining deployment accuracy.
3Reliability
If signaling devices are deployed to multiple predetermined locations, then road safety is improved, but deployment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines multiple placement locations based on the vehicle's position and regulatory requirements before deployment begins. The processor calculates optimal locations for multiple signaling devices in advance, allowing parallel deployment to multiple locations simultaneously, thus reducing overall deployment time while maintaining safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The object placing device continuously operates to deploy signaling devices to multiple locations without interruption. The system maintains continuous deployment action across multiple predetermined locations, ensuring that all safety-critical placements are completed efficiently in sequence or parallel depending on the mechanical capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.