Autonomous Vehicle Traffic Control Using Regulated Range Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traffic control systems for autonomous vehicles do not adequately consider the travel of other vehicles, which can compromise safety.

Innovation Solution

A traffic control method and system that acquires identification information from autonomous vehicles, calculates regulated ranges based on vehicle information, and notifies other vehicles to prevent interference with predetermined operation plans, ensuring safety by preventing entry into calculated regulated areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traffic control system recalculates routes based on actual travel performance without considering other vehicles, then the autonomous vehicle can follow its operation plan efficiently, but the safety of the autonomous vehicle cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel efficiencyVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A control device is introduced as an intermediary between autonomous vehicles to manage their interactions. The control device acquires identification information from vehicles, determines regulated ranges, and communicates this information to vehicles, enabling safe coordination without requiring direct vehicle-to-vehicle negotiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously acquiring identification information from autonomous vehicles, calculating regulated ranges based on their positions and operation plans, and notifying vehicles of these ranges. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures vehicles adjust their travel to maintain safety while following operation plans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system calculates regulated ranges for all autonomous vehicles to ensure safety, then collision prevention is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by calculating regulated ranges specifically for vehicles with first identification information (priority vehicles) rather than uniformly treating all vehicles. The control device selectively acquires vehicle information and calculates regulated ranges only where needed, reducing unnecessary computational complexity while maintaining safety for critical vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The traffic control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: an identification information acquisition unit, a vehicle information acquisition unit, a regulated range calculation unit, and a notification unit. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, making the overall complex system more manageable and maintainable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240005789A1Traffic control method, traffic control system, control device, and program

Publication Date: 2024.01.04 SUMITOMO MITSUI CONSTRUCTION CO LTD

AI summary

A control unit (100): acquires identification information previously assigned to vehicles (200-1), (200-2), (300-1), and (300-2); acquires vehicle information of the vehicles (200-1) and (200-2) for which the acquired identification information includes first identification information; based on the acquired vehicle information, calculates regulated ranges; and notifies of the calculated regulated ranges.