Auxiliary Mode for Driver Assistance Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous driving safety and driver assistance systems face a conflict between ensuring functional reliability and immediate availability, leading to a delay in system readiness after vehicle startup, which can be distracting for drivers and compromise operational comfort.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an auxiliary operation mode that allows the system to function with a reduced set of input parameters immediately after startup, enabling a safe and immediate auxiliary operation while the plausibility check of sensor data and settings is conducted, thereby bridging the startup phase without deactivating the system or alerting the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complete plausibility check of sensor data and parameter settings is performed after engine ignition, then functional reliability of the emergency braking system is ensured, but the system becomes unavailable during the verification period and requires a time delay before operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional reliabilityVSAvoidtime delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing only a subset of plausibility checks initially (partial verification) to enable the system to become operational quickly, then completing the remaining checks in the background. This allows the emergency braking system to provide immediate protection rather than waiting for complete verification, thus reducing the time delay while maintaining functional reliability through progressive validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the driving safety or driver assistance system is deactivated during the verification period, then functional safety is maintained, but driving comfort is reduced and the driver is alerted by warning lights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional safetyVSAvoiddriving comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing essential plausibility checks before the vehicle is driven off, so that the system is already verified and ready for operation when the driver starts driving. This eliminates the need for deactivation during the verification period, avoiding warning lights and maintaining driving comfort while ensuring functional safety through pre-verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the system operates with reduced input sensitivity and non-critical braking forces during the initial phase, then immediate availability is achieved, but the range of functions is slightly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmediate availabilityVSAvoidrange of functions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the system's operational mode flexible and adaptive - it dynamically adjusts between a limited initial mode (with reduced input sensitivity and non-critical braking forces) and a full operational mode. This dynamic transition allows the system to provide immediate availability when needed while gradually expanding its functional range as verification completes, resolving the contradiction between immediate availability and full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3119648B1Method for operating an autonomously operating driving safety or driver assistance system of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 ZF CV SYST HANNOVER GMBH
  • EP3119648B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3119648B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an autonomously operating driving safety or driver assistance system (12) of a motor vehicle (1), which driving safety or driver assistance system (12) continuously acquires vehicle-related and/or vehicle-surroundings-related data, and in a continuously repeating fashion makes a decision on the basis of this data as to whether a driving safety or driver assistance system process is to be initiated or carried out autonomously, and carries out a checking process in which the plausibility of sensor data and parameter settings which are necessary for the operation of the driving safety or driver assistance system (12) is checked. In order to reduce a conflict between functional reliability and availability in the autonomously operating driving safety or driver assistance system (12) and to improve the operating comfort of a motor vehicle (1) which is equipped in such a way, the checking process is carried out directly after the start of a journey of the motor vehicle (1), wherein in the intermediate time between the start of a journey and the start of the normal operation of the driving safety or driver assistance system (12) an auxiliary process is used, by means of which an immediate and safe auxiliary operating mode of the driving safety or driver assistance system (12) with a slightly reduced functional scope is carried out, during a checking period.