Autonomous Vehicle Support Inference for Special Condition Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) face challenges in providing effective onboard assistance for handling special conditions that require human intervention, such as collisions, law enforcement interactions, or medical emergencies, due to the complexity of sensor data and the need for timely and appropriate responses.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that involves receiving sensor data from AV sensors, transforming it using a trained machine learning model to infer special conditions, and contacting an operator to receive instructions for handling these conditions, thereby enabling automated triggers for customer or rider support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor data is directly processed without transformation, then processing speed is faster, but measurement precision and reliability of condition detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracy of special conditionsVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-training machine learning models offline to capture complex sensor data patterns. During runtime, the pre-trained models quickly infer special conditions from transformed sensor data, eliminating the need for complex real-time processing while maintaining high detection accuracy. The transformation pipeline is optimized with caching and incremental updates to reduce processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If complex machine learning models are used to transform sensor data, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinference accuracy of special conditionsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the machine learning inference system into multiple specialized models, each trained to detect specific types of special conditions (e.g., collision detection model, medical emergency detection model, law enforcement interaction model). This segmentation allows the system to use simpler, more efficient models for each specific task rather than one large complex model, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high accuracy for each condition type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If automated inference system is implemented, then response time to special conditions improves, but loss of information about nuanced situations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to special conditionsVSAvoidcontextual information loss
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the automated inference system continuously monitors sensor data and updates its predictions in real-time. When initial inference results are ambiguous or confidence levels are low, the system requests additional sensor readings or alternative interpretations. The system also provides feedback to operators about inferred conditions, allowing human review when contextual nuance is critical, thus preserving information while maintaining fast automated response for clear-cut cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12202505B2Automated inference of a customer support request in an autonomous vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.21 GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
  • US12202505B2 patent drawing
  • US12202505B2 patent drawing
  • US12202505B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of providing an onboard assistant for a vehicle, comprising: receiving sensor data from sensors of the vehicle; transforming the sensor data using a trained machine learning model to provide transformed sensor data; inferring from the transformed sensor data that a special condition for the vehicle requires intervention; and contacting an operator of the vehicle to inform the operator of the special condition and receive instructions for handling the special condition.