Autonomous Vehicle Failure Handling in Restricted Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face significant productivity losses due to handling failures, as they typically stop when alerts are raised, regardless of location, which is not efficient in restricted areas where operations can continue safely.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit that differentiate failure handling based on whether the autonomous vehicle is in an open road or restricted area, allowing it to continue operating if safety conditions are met, with flexible driving parameters and real-time status assessments to determine safe exit from restricted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle stops when a failure is detected, then safety is ensured, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating failure handling based on location. When the vehicle is in a restricted area, a specific restricted area configuration is applied that allows continued operation under certain conditions, whereas in open road areas, the vehicle would stop. This location-specific approach enables productivity maintenance in restricted areas while preserving safety through conditional monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the failure handling strategy adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts its response based on the current location (restricted area vs. open road) and the specific failure conditions. This allows the vehicle to transition between stopping and continuing operation based on real-time assessments of safety conditions.
2Productivity
If the autonomous vehicle continues operation in restricted area with failure, then productivity is maintained, but safety risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring safety conditions while the vehicle operates in restricted area with a detected failure. The system assesses whether predetermined safety conditions are fulfilled and uses this feedback to determine whether the vehicle should continue operation or stop. This closed-loop monitoring ensures safety is maintained even during continued operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the operational parameters when a failure is detected in a restricted area. The system changes the failure handling parameters based on the restricted area configuration, allowing continued operation with adjusted safety thresholds and monitoring protocols, rather than the standard stop command.
3Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle stops in open road area, then safety is ensured, but time loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the operating environment into distinct zones: restricted areas and open road areas. Each zone has its own failure handling configuration. This segmentation allows the vehicle to apply different strategies (continue operation vs. stop) based on location, thereby minimizing time loss in restricted areas while maintaining safety in open road areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for handling failures in an autonomous vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting a failure in the autonomous vehicle. The method further comprises determining whether the autonomous vehicle is in an open road area or in a restricted area. When the autonomous vehicle is determined to be in the restricted area, the method comprises handling the failure according to a restricted area configuration by determining whether a predetermined safety condition is fulfilled. When the predetermined safety condition is determined to be fulfilled, the method further comprises allowing the autonomous vehicle to leave the restricted area.