Autonomous Vehicle Maneuver Coordination for Non-Standard Traffic Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles lack reliable navigation and coordination in atypical traffic environments, such as emergency vehicle scenarios and road construction sites, leading to potential safety risks and traffic inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that enables autonomous vehicles to receive and respond to control signals from entities like police vehicles, emergency vehicles, and road signs, allowing them to automatically navigate and maneuver appropriately in non-standard traffic flows, thereby ensuring safety and coordination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If autonomous vehicles use preconfigured navigation schemas for standard traffic environments, then navigation simplicity and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to respond to non-standard traffic flows (emergency vehicles, road construction, etc.) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation simplicityVSAvoidresponse to non-standard traffic flows

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system transitions from static preconfigured schemas to dynamic adaptive navigation. The system continuously monitors traffic environment characteristics and automatically adjusts navigation decisions in real-time based on detected non-standard conditions such as emergency vehicles, road construction, or unusual traffic patterns, allowing the vehicle to adapt its behavior dynamically to diverse situations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where sensors continuously detect traffic environment characteristics, the processing unit analyzes this information against navigation rules, and the system adjusts its navigation decisions based on the analysis. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the vehicle to respond appropriately to non-standard traffic flows by continuously monitoring and adapting to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If autonomous vehicles independently respond to non-standard traffic flows without coordination, then individual vehicle response capability is improved, but overall traffic flow coordination and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual vehicle response capabilityVSAvoidoverall traffic flow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges individual vehicle navigation decisions with coordinated traffic flow management. Multiple autonomous vehicles share information about detected non-standard traffic flows and coordinate their navigation maneuvers through centralized or distributed communication, ensuring that individual reliability is maintained while achieving collective traffic flow efficiency and avoiding chaotic or conflicting maneuvers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation system performs multiple functions: it manages individual vehicle navigation safety and response capability while simultaneously participating in coordinated traffic flow management. The system can operate in both individual decision-making mode and coordinated multi-vehicle mode, providing universal functionality that addresses both individual reliability and overall traffic efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If autonomous vehicles lack coordination in responding to non-standard traffic flows, then individual vehicle autonomy is maintained, but traffic safety and coordination among multiple vehicles deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual vehicle autonomyVSAvoidtraffic safety and coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces communication and coordination mechanisms as intermediaries between autonomous vehicles. When non-standard traffic flows are detected, vehicles exchange information and coordinate their responses through standardized communication protocols, allowing individual autonomy to be preserved while ensuring collective safety and coordination through the intermediary coordination layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11710402B2Autonomous vehicle maneuver system for emergency vehicles and non-standard traffic flow

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided that may to cause autonomous navigation of autonomous vehicles in the case of non-standard traffic flows such as police stops, emergency vehicle passing, construction sites, vehicle collision sites, and other non-standard road conditions. An entity associated with the non-standard traffic flow (e.g., an emergency vehicle, road sign, barrier, etc.) may transmit or broadcast a control signal to be received (or otherwise detected) at one or more autonomous vehicles. Each autonomous vehicle, upon receiving the control signal, may autonomously navigate in accordance with the control signal, thus mitigating or eliminating dangers associated with non-standard traffic flows.