Autonomous Vehicle Wireless Traffic Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Highly automated motor vehicles face challenges in interpreting and responding to driving instructions from authorized agencies, such as police officers, especially when these instructions are given through hand signals, which can be difficult for processing systems to recognize optically, leading to potential safety issues in traffic management.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for controlling a motor vehicle independently of the driver, allowing wireless transmission and execution of driving instructions from authorized agencies, including confirmation and handover to the driver, ensuring safe operation and compliance with traffic regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If optical scanning is used to detect lane markings and traffic signals, then the system can operate autonomously without driver intervention, but the system fails to correctly identify police officers and hand signals in traffic control situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous driving capabilityVSAvoiddetection of hand signals
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wireless communication device as an intermediary between authorized agencies (police, rescue services) and the autonomous vehicle. This mediator transmits driving instructions directly to the vehicle's control system, bypassing the need for optical detection of hand signals. The wireless communication bridge resolves the contradiction by enabling autonomous vehicles to receive and execute traffic control instructions reliably without relying on difficult-to-detect visual cues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If the vehicle operates independently without driver backup, then automation level increases, but the vehicle cannot respond appropriately to unexpected situations or malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver-independent operationVSAvoidsafety in unknown situations
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-programming the autonomous vehicle with the capability to receive and execute wireless driving instructions from authorized agencies. Instead of relying on real-time human intervention, the system is prepared in advance with the infrastructure to communicate with police, rescue services, and other authorized entities. This allows the vehicle to respond appropriately to unexpected situations autonomously, maintaining both high automation levels and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If driving instructions are transmitted wirelessly from authorized agencies, then response time improves, but the system complexity increases due to communication protocols and authentication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time to instructionsVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the wireless communication device to handle multiple functions within a single integrated system. The device not only transmits driving instructions but also provides authentication of authorized agencies, maintains communication logs for legal documentation, and can transmit various types of traffic control information. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function, while maintaining fast response times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3298465B1Highly automated control of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3298465B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3298465B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3298465B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a motor vehicle comprising steps of controlling the motor vehicle on a road independently of a driver, receiving a wirelessly transmitted driving instruction from a device in an environment of the motor vehicle, outputting a reference to the driving instruction to a driver of the motor vehicle, determining that, for longer than a predetermined time, the driver has not taken over the control of the motor vehicle, and executing the driving instruction independently of the driver.