Autonomous Vehicle Collision Prevention via Localization Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving solutions are inadequate for dynamically changing environments, such as collaborative industrial settings, as they rely on limited sensors and algorithms prone to errors, leading to potential collisions between autonomous vehicles and humans, requiring continuous human oversight.
Innovation Solution
A collision prevention system that uses a localization system, including ultra-wideband and optical technologies, to determine the positions of autonomous vehicles and humans, locking the vehicle if a collision is predicted and alerting the human, allowing unlocking only by the identified individual once the danger has passed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed trajectory solutions are used for autonomous vehicles, then the vehicle can operate along predetermined paths, but the system cannot adapt to dynamically changing environments and collaborative work areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed trajectory paths to dynamic real-time collision prevention by continuously monitoring positions of autonomous vehicles and humans using localization systems. The collision determination unit dynamically adjusts safety measures based on real-time position data, enabling adaptation to changing environments without requiring complex reprogramming of navigation paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the localization system constantly provides position information to the collision determination unit, which then determines whether predefined collision conditions are met. This feedback mechanism enables real-time collision prevention while maintaining relatively simple system architecture by using standardized communication protocols and predefined safety conditions.
2Reliability
If advanced sensors and algorithms are deployed for collision detection, then collision prevention capability improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The collision prevention system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a localization system for position determination, a collision determination unit for analyzing collision risk, and alert mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability without requiring all components to be highly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The collision determination unit acts as an intermediary between the localization system and the autonomous vehicle control system. It processes position data from the localization system, applies predefined collision conditions, and triggers appropriate safety actions. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system by centralizing the complex decision-making logic in a dedicated unit rather than distributing complexity across multiple sensors and algorithms.
3Speed
If direct proximity measurements are used for collision detection, then the system responds quickly to immediate threats, but global positioning and situation awareness are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges direct proximity measurements from the localization system with global position information in a unified collision determination framework. The localization system provides both immediate proximity data for rapid response and global positioning context, which are combined in the collision determination unit to make comprehensive safety decisions without losing either speed or positional awareness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety by preventing collisions in dynamic environments through precise positioning and alerting mechanisms, reducing the reliance on human oversight and improving navigation assistance for autonomous vehicles in collaborative work areas.
Implementation Method 1
The localization system may comprise an ultra-wideband (UWB)-based localization system. The localization system may hereby be based on a radio technology which may, for example, use a relatively low energy level for short-range, high-bandwidth communications
Implementation Method 2
The localization system may, in some other example implementations, comprise an optical unit, such as one or more cameras and/or scanners
Data Source
AI summary
We generally describe a collision prevention system (100) comprising: a localization system (402) for determining positions of an autonomous vehicle (104) and a human (106); and a collision determination unit (404) coupled to or in communication with the localization system (402), wherein the collision determination unit (404) is configured to determine, based on the determined positions of the autonomous vehicle (104) and the human (106), whether a predefined condition for an anticipated collision of the autonomous vehicle (104) with the human (106) is met; wherein the collision prevention system (100) is configured to: lock the autonomous vehicle (104) if the predefined condition is met; alert the human (106) for whom the predefined condition for colliding with the autonomous vehicle (104) is met; and allow unlocking of the autonomous vehicle (104) to be performed or initialized by the alerted human (106) only.