Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Reliability via Leading Vehicle Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous driving vehicles face challenges in transitioning from automated to manual driving modes due to unreliable sensor data, especially in conditions like fog or damaged sensors, which can lead to unsafe handovers to drivers who may not be prepared.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a data communication link with a leading vehicle that can maintain autonomous driving mode, allowing the ego vehicle to follow its trajectory and use auxiliary data for continued autonomous operation, thereby avoiding manual control handovers and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the vehicle operates in autonomous driving mode based on sensor data, then automation level is improved, but reliability deteriorates when sensor data becomes unreliable (fog, damaged sensors)
Solution Approach 1:
A leading vehicle acts as an intermediary, providing auxiliary data about environmental conditions and trajectory information that the following vehicle uses to maintain autonomous operation when its own sensors become unreliable. The leading vehicle transmits data about fog conditions, road markings, and planned trajectory to help the following vehicle compensate for its sensor limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The following vehicle copies trajectory and environmental data from the leading vehicle to supplement its own sensor data. By receiving and using the leading vehicle's auxiliary data about the environment and planned path, the following vehicle can maintain autonomous driving functionality even when its direct sensor measurements are insufficient or unreliable.
2Reliability
If control is handed over to the driver when sensor data is unreliable, then reliability is improved, but safety deteriorates when the driver is not prepared for manual driving
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing data communication with a leading vehicle before the following vehicle's sensors become unreliable. By proactively receiving auxiliary data about environmental conditions and trajectory, the system prepares the autonomous driving system to maintain operation through alternative data sources rather than forcing an emergency handover to the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data quality and receives feedback from the leading vehicle about environmental conditions. When sensor reliability deteriorates, the feedback mechanism triggers acquisition of auxiliary data from the leading vehicle, allowing the system to adapt and maintain autonomous operation based on the combined information quality assessment.
3Reliability
If expensive high-performance sensors are used to maintain autonomous driving in all conditions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the sensor systems of multiple vehicles by having the following vehicle receive and process auxiliary data from the leading vehicle. This combination of sensor data from multiple sources allows the system to achieve more reliable environmental perception than a single vehicle could achieve alone, effectively distributing the sensing capability across the vehicle platoon.
Solution Approach 2:
The leading vehicle's data transmission serves multiple functions: it provides environmental condition information, trajectory data, and compensates for the following vehicle's sensor limitations. This multi-functional data exchange allows the following vehicle to maintain autonomous operation without requiring additional expensive sensors, as the same communication infrastructure serves multiple purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an autonomously driving vehicle includes operating the vehicle in a first autonomous driving mode by means of a controller device based on sensor data captured by a sensor system of the vehicle, determining, from environmental data which includes at least the sensor data, presence of a handover condition at a handover location within a planned trajectory of the vehicle, establishing a data communication to a leading vehicle being operated in an autonomous driving mode to travel along a leading trajectory including the handover location, and operating the vehicle in a second autonomous driving mode based at least partially on first auxiliary data provided by the leading vehicle.