Autonomous Vehicle Zone Exit Control and Driver Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autonomous driving systems face challenges in ensuring vehicle safety when transitioning out of autonomous mode, particularly when the human driver has delegated vigilance to the automated system, and there is a lack of clear communication and control handover protocols.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that alerts the human driver when approaching the end of an autonomous mode zone and automatically slows or stops the vehicle if the driver fails to take control, using a calculated stopping distance based on the vehicle's speed and deceleration to ensure a smooth and safe transition back to manual control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the automated system operates in autonomous mode without continuous human monitoring, then the driver can delegate driving vigilance to the automated system, but the vehicle safety cannot be ensured when the autonomous mode zone ends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver vigilance delegationVSAvoidvehicle safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating the distance to the end of the autonomous zone in advance, activating alerting signals before the zone ends, and preparing the automatic stopping function to ensure safe transition back to manual control mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring the vehicle's position relative to the autonomous zone, detecting when the driver has not taken control, and triggering appropriate responses (alerting signals or automatic stopping) to maintain safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the system alerts the driver in advance before the autonomous zone ends, then the driver can take control smoothly, but the vehicle may not stop safely if the driver fails to respond

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol handover smoothnessVSAvoidsafety backup mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the stopping distance in advance based on current speed and deceleration capabilities, and prepares the automatic stopping function before it is actually needed, ensuring that the vehicle can stop safely within the available distance if the driver does not respond

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides a safety cushion by implementing automatic stopping as a backup mechanism that activates when the driver fails to take control, preventing potential safety issues that would occur if the vehicle continued beyond the autonomous zone without human oversight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the vehicle stops automatically when the driver does not take control, then the vehicle safety is maintained, but the passenger comfort may be reduced due to sudden deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidpassenger discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts the deceleration parameter to optimize the balance between safety and comfort, using a deceleration value that is sufficient to stop the vehicle safely but not so high as to cause excessive passenger discomfort or anxiety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3003812B1Operating method for a vehicle in manual mode and in autonomous mode
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 RENAULT SA
  • EP3003812B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3003812B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3003812B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The operating method according to the invention for a vehicle comprises a step for driving in manual mode, in which a longitudinal movement and a lateral movement are controlled by a human driver, and a step for driving in autonomous mode, in which the longitudinal movement and the lateral movement are controlled by an automated system. In the method, a step (246) for alerting the human driver is activated in particular in autonomous mode when the automated system receives (243) a first distance (D1) that separates the vehicle from an end of the zone in which the autonomous mode is authorized. A step (248) for automatically stopping the vehicle before reaching the zone end is activated in autonomous mode when the human driver does not resume control of the vehicle after receiving the first distance (D1) from the automated system.