Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Control for Power and Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in managing power consumption and thermal issues due to continuous operation of sensor systems, leading to potential overheating, especially when stationary or in low airflow conditions, which can be exacerbated by the lack of efficient cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies vehicle parameters such as future actions, geographic locations, and weather conditions to modify the operating characteristics of onboard systems, like sensor systems, to reduce power consumption and heat generation proactively, using data processing and machine-learned models to adjust parameters like frame rates, data acquisition frequencies, and system modes for efficient thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor systems operate continuously to ensure autonomous vehicle safety and functionality, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but heat generation and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by dynamically adjusting sensor operation modes based on driving conditions. Sensors switch between high-resolution continuous operation during critical phases (maneuvering, intersection navigation) and lower-resolution or periodic sampling during steady-state cruising, maintaining reliability while reducing thermal load during less critical periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making sensor operating characteristics adjustable in real-time. The control system modifies sensor parameters (frame rates, resolution, activation state) dynamically based on vehicle speed, environmental conditions, and mission requirements, optimizing the balance between reliability and thermal management
2Measurement precision
If sensor systems operate at high power to maintain accurate environmental perception, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting sensor operating parameters (resolution, frame rate, detection range) based on driving conditions. During high-speed cruising, sensors may operate at lower resolution with reduced frame rates, while during low-speed maneuvering or complex environment navigation, full resolution and high frame rates are activated, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and power consumption
3Temperature
If complex cooling systems are added to manage thermal load, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by using the vehicle's motion through environmental airflow to provide passive cooling. The forward movement of the vehicle creates natural convection currents that dissipate heat from sensor components without requiring active cooling mechanisms, allowing the system to manage its own thermal load through its operational context
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cooling function from a separate active system and integrates it with the vehicle's motion. By positioning sensors to utilize airflow generated by vehicle movement, the cooling capability is derived from the vehicle's primary function of transportation, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling hardware
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters. The operations include controlling a heat generation of at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle via implementation of the modification of the operating characteristic(s) of the system(s) onboard the autonomous vehicle.