Autonomous Vehicle External Stop Signal Handling and Brake Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack the ability to handle external indications, such as roadside inspections, without relying on visual perception and human decision-making, posing challenges in safely stopping and managing trips.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle system that detects external signals, analyzes them to determine if a stop is required, and automatically engages parking brakes and controls the vehicle to stop at a designated location, terminating trips as necessary, using a combination of sensing systems and processing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles rely on visual perception and human decision-making to handle external indications, then the system can interpret complex external signals, but the system lacks automation and requires human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system performs self-service by automatically detecting external indications through sensors, analyzing signals to determine stop requirements, and executing stopping maneuvers without human intervention. The system serves itself by integrating sensing, processing, and control functions into an autonomous decision-making loop that handles external indications independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human visual perception and manual decision-making with an electronic sensing and processing system. Sensors detect external indications, processing devices analyze signals, and control systems execute responses, substituting human cognitive and physical actions with automated electronic systems that maintain reliability through structured decision protocols.
2Reliability
If the vehicle automatically stops at designated locations and engages parking brakes, then safety during inspections is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensing systems for detecting external indications, processing devices for analyzing signals and determining stop requirements, and control systems for executing stopping maneuvers and engaging parking brakes. This segmentation manages complexity by dividing the autonomous response system into specialized subsystems with defined responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically engaging parking brakes and positioning the vehicle at designated stopping locations before inspections begin. This preliminary automation ensures safety conditions are established in advance, reducing the need for complex real-time adjustments during inspection procedures.
3Reliability
If the system processes external signals to determine stop requirements, then compliance with regulations is improved, but the response time may be delayed due to signal analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary signal analysis by continuously monitoring external indications and pre-evaluating stop requirements before actual stopping is needed. This preliminary processing allows the system to be ready to execute compliance actions rapidly when external signals indicate a stop is required, maintaining both regulatory compliance and fast response times.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes detecting, by a sensing system of an autonomous vehicle (AV) executing a trip from a first location to a second location, a signal from a source external to the AV to stop the AV, and analyzing the signal to determine whether the AV is to be stopped in response to the signal. Responsive to determining that the AV is to be stopped, the method includes causing a vehicle control system of the AV to stop the AV at a third location, determining that one or more parking brakes are to be engaged, and causing the vehicle control system to automatically engage the one or more parking brakes.