Remote Teleoperation for Autonomous Vehicle Fault Intervention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) face challenges in handling system faults, extreme weather conditions, and temporary detours, which can lead to risks such as collisions or traffic jams, and existing technologies lack effective remote assistance mechanisms to intervene and ensure safe operation.

Innovation Solution

A teleoperation system that allows a remote operator to interact with an AV's onboard client and server, enabling intervention in the vehicle's autonomous driving capabilities by analyzing signals for malfunctions or unusual events, and allowing fallback interventions such as switching to manual mode, identifying safe stop locations, and updating trajectories or speed profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If autonomous driving capabilities operate independently without remote intervention, then automation level is improved, but reliability deteriorates when system faults or extreme weather conditions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous driving capabilityVSAvoidsafe operation under fault conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A teleoperation system acts as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle and remote operators. When system faults or extreme weather conditions are detected, the teleoperation system enables remote operators to intervene and provide assistance, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving autonomous operation during normal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If remote teleoperation intervention is enabled, then reliability is improved during system faults, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe operation under fault conditionsVSAvoidteleoperation system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The teleoperation system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a teleoperation client on the autonomous vehicle, a teleoperation server for remote communication, and event handling processes. This segmentation allows the complex intervention capability to be implemented in a modular, manageable way that minimizes overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the vehicle operates in fully autonomous mode without fallback options, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates when unexpected events occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous driving modeVSAvoidresponse to unexpected events

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on detected conditions. During normal operation, the vehicle maintains fully autonomous mode for ease of operation. When unexpected events or system faults are detected, the system can transition to teleoperation mode, enabling remote intervention and thereby adapting to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11112789B2Intervention in operation of a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 MOTIONAL AD LLC

AI summary

Among other things, a determination is made that intervention in an operation of one or more autonomous driving capabilities of a vehicle is appropriate. Based on the determination, a person is enabled to provide information for an intervention. The intervention is caused in the operation of the one or more autonomous driving capabilities of the vehicle.