Method for operating an autonomous vehicle to avoid collisons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in effectively avoiding collisions when stationary, particularly when detecting impending collisions from approaching vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a sensor system and computing unit to detect potential collision causes, calculate an evasive strategy with the lowest risk trajectory, and execute the evasive maneuver, which is interrupted once the approaching vehicle's speed reaches zero.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle executes an evasive maneuver to avoid collision, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but the risk of unintended movements after the approaching vehicle stops increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidunintended movement risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the speed of the approaching vehicle during the evasive maneuver and uses this feedback to determine when to interrupt the maneuver. When the sensor system detects that the approaching vehicle's speed has fallen to about zero, it automatically interrupts the evasive movement, preventing unintended collisions after the other vehicle has stopped.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The evasive maneuver is designed to be dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The vehicle executes the evasive trajectory while continuously monitoring the situation, and the maneuver can be interrupted at any point based on real-time conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the evasion strategy to the actual behavior of the approaching vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle continuously monitors and recalculates evasive trajectories, then collision avoidance effectiveness is improved, but computational load and response time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidance effectivenessVSAvoidcomputational processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates a family of possible evasive trajectories before an actual collision threat materializes. When the sensor system detects an approaching vehicle, the system can quickly select from these pre-prepared trajectories rather than calculating from scratch, significantly reducing computational time while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs continuous monitoring and recalculation of evasive trajectories, which may be more computation than strictly necessary in some situations. This excessive computational action ensures that the system is always prepared with updated trajectory options, improving reliability by maintaining readiness for immediate response regardless of changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250058771A1Method for operating an autonomous vehicle to avoid collisons

Publication Date: 2025.02.20 TORC ROBOTICS INC

AI summary

A method for operating an autonomous vehicle with a sensor system and a computing unit connected thereto. The method includes detecting with the sensor system an environment of the vehicle and potential collision causes. The method includes detecting an impending collision of the potential collision causes. The method includes preparing an evasive strategy including an evasive trajectory in which the evasive trajectory with the lowest risk is selected from a family of evasive trajectories; and is carried out by the vehicle, wherein once the speed of the potential collision cause has fallen to about zero, the evasive movement of the vehicle is interrupted.