Autonomous Vehicle Stop Point Coordination via Central Repository
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in efficiently locating and accessing suitable stop points for parking, pick-up, or drop-off due to limitations in their onboard sensors, which often require proximity to the destination and lack coordination with other vehicles or external data sources.
Innovation Solution
A system that aggregates stop point data from various sources, including vehicles, satellites, and road sensors, and transmits this information to autonomous vehicles, allowing them to request and reserve stop points before arrival, and coordinate with other vehicles to optimize stop point utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicles use only their own onboard sensors to locate stop points, then the vehicle can detect stop points, but the vehicle must be within close proximity to the stop point which increases search time and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of stop points using external sensors (road sensors, satellites, other vehicles) before the autonomous vehicle arrives at the destination. Stop point data including location coordinates, availability status, and environmental conditions are collected and stored in a central repository in advance, allowing the vehicle to request and receive pre-identified stop points rather than searching upon arrival.
Solution Approach 2:
A central repository system acts as an intermediary between external data sources (sensors, satellites, other vehicles) and the autonomous vehicle. This intermediary aggregates, stores, and manages stop point data from multiple sources, then provides requested stop point information to the vehicle through a centralized communication interface, eliminating the need for the vehicle to directly search using only its own sensors.
2Reliability
If vehicles search for stop points upon arrival at destination, then the vehicle can locate available spots, but the vehicle spends excessive time searching which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies and reserves stop points in advance before the vehicle completes its journey. The central repository maintains real-time information about stop point availability, and the vehicle can request and secure a stop point location prior to arrival, ensuring availability while eliminating post-arrival search time and improving operational productivity.
3Device complexity
If vehicles do not coordinate with other vehicles or external sources, then the vehicle system remains simple, but the vehicle cannot efficiently locate or reserve stop points in advance
Solution Approach 1:
A central repository system serves as an intermediary that aggregates stop point data from external sources including road sensors, satellites, and other vehicles. The autonomous vehicle communicates stop point requests to this centralized system, which retrieves and provides the requested information, allowing the vehicle to maintain a relatively simple onboard sensor system while still accessing comprehensive external data through the intermediary.
4Ease of operation
If vehicles arrive at stop points without prior coordination, then the system is simple to operate, but multiple vehicles may conflict over the same stop points reducing overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The central repository system provides real-time feedback about stop point availability status to vehicles. When a vehicle requests a stop point, the system checks current availability, communicates the status back to the vehicle, and can reserve the stop point for the requesting vehicle. This feedback mechanism coordinates multiple vehicles, preventing conflicts over the same stop points while maintaining ease of operation through automated status communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive stop point data from a plurality of sources. The stop point data can be aggregated into a central repository. A request for stop point data at a particular location can be received from a first vehicle. The stop point data at the particular location stored in the central repository can be transmitted to the first vehicle.