Autonomous Vehicle Article Holding Unit for Secure Mobile Service Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems lack the ability to independently select destinations and compensate for system failures without external intervention, limiting their operational efficiency and reliability in uncertain environments.
Innovation Solution
A method for performing autonomous mobile services using a server computing device to control an autonomous vehicle with Level 5 autonomy, which includes an article holding unit and an authentication device, allowing the vehicle to move to a specified exchange location and provide services such as delivering or holding items, with secure payment processing and user authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors and control systems to navigate and perform services independently, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system is divided into distinct functional modules: sensor subsystems (radar, laser, GPS, odometry, computer vision), control system, authentication device, and article holding unit. Each module operates independently but communicates through the centralized control system, allowing for easier development, testing, and maintenance of individual components while achieving high-level autonomous functionality.
2Ease of operation
If autonomous vehicles operate without special marking structures in the environment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of navigation may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple navigation and positioning technologies (radar for obstacle detection, laser for environmental mapping, GPS for global positioning, odometry for motion tracking, and computer vision for visual navigation) into an integrated sensor system. This fusion of multiple sensing modalities compensates for the absence of special environmental markers, maintaining navigation precision through redundant and complementary measurement approaches.
3Reliability
If autonomous vehicles are designed to compensate for system failures without external intervention, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the operational status of all vehicle subsystems through sensor feedback and system diagnostics. When failures or anomalies are detected, the control system automatically adjusts navigation paths, activates backup systems, or modifies service operations to maintain reliable functionality without requiring external intervention, thereby enhancing system reliability through real-time self-diagnosis and self-correction.
4Reliability
If autonomous vehicles implement secure authentication and payment processing systems, then the reliability of service delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authentication device as an intermediary component between the autonomous vehicle and the user. This dedicated authentication module handles verification of user identity and payment processing, separating these complex functions from the core navigation and service delivery systems. The authentication device communicates with the control system to authorize services, thereby ensuring reliable service delivery while isolating authentication complexity in a specialized subsystem.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing autonomous mobile services can include receiving, with a server, a first input corresponding to a request for mobile services, a payment account associated with a user, and an exchange location. The server can control an autonomous vehicle to move to the exchange location. An article holding unit of the vehicle can receive the user and can hold furniture or tools with radio frequency identification tags. The server can receive a second input from an authentication device positioned on the vehicle that corresponds to payment. A door to the holding unit can be opened in response to receipt of the second input. The user can then be received in the article holding unit. The autonomous vehicle can remain at the exchange location until the user has left the article holding unit.