Autonomous Vehicle Stopping Area Selection Using Pedestrian Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles lack the ability to effectively determine optimal stopping areas and points that are advantageous to users, as they rely on limited sensors and lack integrated systems for evaluating real-time traffic and pedestrian signals to minimize stopping time and maximize user convenience.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle system equipped with a display unit and controller that searches for available stopping areas based on acquired vehicle driving information, including map, traffic, and location data, to determine a recommended area by calculating the sum of stopping and walking times, and considers pedestrian signal transition times to optimize user convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the autonomous vehicle uses basic sensor equipment for stopping, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to determine optimal stopping areas and minimize stopping time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor equipmentVSAvoidstopping time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensors (cameras, LIDAR, radar, ultrasonic sensors) and integrates them with a controller to form a comprehensive stopping area determination system. This merging of components enables the vehicle to evaluate multiple factors simultaneously and determine optimal stopping areas that minimize stopping time while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes data from various sensors and applies algorithms to determine optimal stopping areas. It mediates between raw sensor data and the final stopping decision, evaluating factors such as pedestrian signals, traffic conditions, and spatial constraints to minimize stopping time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the autonomous vehicle determines stopping areas without considering pedestrian signals and traffic information, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user convenience and safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrated evaluation systemVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of potential stopping areas by considering pedestrian signals, traffic information, and spatial constraints before the vehicle actually stops. This advance assessment ensures that the selected stopping area is optimal for user convenience and safety, allowing the user to reach the destination quickly and safely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously receives feedback from sensors about pedestrian signals, traffic conditions, and the vehicle's position relative to potential stopping areas. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust its stopping area selection in real-time, ensuring optimal user convenience and safety based on current conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the autonomous vehicle searches for available stopping areas using comprehensive vehicle driving information, then the stopping area determination accuracy is improved, but the information processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping area determination accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller segments the stopping area determination process into distinct evaluation stages: identifying potential stopping areas, evaluating pedestrian signal conditions, assessing traffic information, and selecting the optimal area. This segmentation allows the system to process comprehensive information systematically and efficiently, improving accuracy while managing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system evaluates multiple factors beyond the minimum required for stopping (such as pedestrian signals, traffic information, and user convenience factors) to determine the optimal stopping area. This excessive evaluation ensures high determination accuracy by considering all relevant factors, even though it requires more processing time than basic stopping requirements would demand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3339127B1Autonomous vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3339127B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3339127B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3339127B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an autonomous vehicle including a display unit and a controller which is configured to: when the vehicle enters a set distance from a preset destination or receives a stop request while travelling, search for at least one available stopping area based on acquired vehicle driving information; and display information about a found available stopping area on the display unit or transmit such information to a preset terminal.