Autonomous Vehicle Speed Control Testing With Virtual Traffic Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory testing methods for automotive exhaust gas emissions and energy efficiency are inadequate for vehicles with autonomous features, as they fail to simulate real-world driving conditions and interactions with other vehicles, leading to inaccurate emissions and efficiency measurements.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method are developed to simulate real-world traffic scenarios using physical or virtual target vehicles that interact with test vehicles, replicating ambient conditions and vehicle interactions, allowing for accurate emissions and efficiency measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional laboratory testing methods are used for autonomous vehicles, then testing can be conducted in a controlled environment, but the testing fails to simulate real-world driving conditions and interactions with other vehicles, leading to inaccurate emissions and efficiency measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual target vehicles that replicate the visual, radar, and LiDAR characteristics of real vehicles to simulate traffic interactions in a controlled laboratory environment. This allows the test vehicle's autonomous systems to respond to simulated traffic conditions while maintaining measurement accuracy for emissions and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts parameters such as target vehicle speed, distance, and trajectory to replicate various real-world driving scenarios including cut-ins, lane changes, and stop-and-go traffic. These parameter variations enable accurate simulation of autonomous vehicle responses under diverse conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical target vehicles are used to simulate traffic interactions, then real-world vehicle interactions can be replicated, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using physical target vehicles, the patent employs virtual targets that are rendered on displays and detected by the test vehicle's cameras, radar, and LiDAR. This approach replicates the appearance and behavior of real vehicles without the complexity and cost of physical counterparts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical physical target vehicles with electronic and optical systems including displays, projectors, and signal generators that create virtual vehicle representations detectable by autonomous vehicle sensors
3Measurement precision
If the autonomous vehicle's speed is controlled to follow a desired speed schedule, then emissions measurements can be standardized, but the vehicle's autonomous longitudinal speed control features are not properly tested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the speed control function into two independent systems: a feedback controller that maintains the desired speed schedule for measurement consistency, and the autonomous longitudinal control system that responds to virtual target vehicles. This segmentation allows both standardized emissions measurement and autonomous system testing to occur simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback controller acts as an intermediary between the speed schedule requirements and the autonomous control system, adjusting throttle and brake commands to maintain speed while allowing the autonomous system to operate independently and respond to simulated traffic conditions
4Reliability
If laboratory testing is used instead of real-world road testing, then testing can be repeated and controlled, but it becomes difficult and expensive to test vehicles under the broad range of real-world environmental, road, and driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an environmental chamber or atmospheric simulation system to dynamically adjust temperature, humidity, pressure, and other environmental parameters to replicate various real-world conditions including extreme temperatures and different atmospheric compositions, enabling repeated testing under diverse environmental scenarios
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
A vehicle longitudinal speed control testing apparatus includes a first movable target body spaced away from a vehicle executing active speed control while loaded by a dynamometer assembly, and a controller. The controller changes a distance between the first movable target body and the vehicle to cause a speed parameter of the vehicle to follow a desired vehicle speed schedule based on speed parameter feedback from the dynamometer assembly or the vehicle, a sum of a speed of the first movable target body and the speed parameter feedback to follow a desired absolute speed schedule, or the distance between the first movable target body and the vehicle to increase according to a desired distance schedule.