Autonomous Vehicle Thermal Control Through Adaptive Sensor Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in managing power consumption and thermal management, particularly due to heat generation from continuous operation of sensors and computing systems, which can lead to overheating and the need for complex cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
An onboard vehicle computing system predicts future conditions and modifies the operating characteristics of systems like sensors and motion planning to reduce power consumption and heat generation, using algorithms and machine-learned models to adjust parameters such as frame rates and data acquisition based on vehicle parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous operation of sensors and computing systems is maintained, then autonomous vehicle navigation and sensing capabilities are preserved, but heat generation increases leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts sensor operating characteristics (frame rates, data acquisition frequencies) based on real-time vehicle parameters and environmental conditions. The system transitions between different operational states (e.g., high-performance mode during active navigation, reduced-power mode during thermal stress) to balance reliability and thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of sensors and computing systems in response to thermal conditions. When temperature thresholds are approached, the system modifies frame rates, resolution, or data sampling frequencies to reduce heat generation while maintaining sufficient navigation capability.
2Temperature
If complex cooling systems are added to manage thermal conditions, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own computational resources and sensor data to monitor and manage its thermal state. The autonomous vehicle's computing system analyzes its own temperature conditions and automatically adjusts operational parameters without requiring external cooling infrastructure or complex thermal management hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat generation into a useful signal for system control. By monitoring thermal conditions, the system uses temperature information to trigger operational adjustments that reduce heat generation at its source, turning a potential failure mode into a control parameter.
3Temperature
If sensor operating characteristics are modified to reduce power consumption, then thermal management is improved, but sensing precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational characteristics to different sensors or different functional modes of the same sensor based on local requirements. For example, during critical navigation phases, full precision is maintained, while during thermal stress in less critical situations, reduced precision modes are activated.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for power and thermal management of autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system includes processor(s) and one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that when executed by the processor(s) cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data associated with an autonomous vehicle. The operations include identifying one or more vehicle parameters associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the autonomous vehicle. The operations include determining a modification to one or more operating characteristics of one or more systems onboard the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more vehicle parameters. The operations include controlling a temperature of at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle via implementation of the modification of the operating characteristic(s) of the system(s) onboard the autonomous vehicle.