Autonomous Vehicle Tunnel Navigation Under Signal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face navigation challenges and safety risks when communication signals from external systems, such as GNSS and GPS, are compromised, particularly in environments like road tunnels where signal occlusion occurs, leading to loss of navigation and inability to provide status updates or respond to incidents.
Innovation Solution
A system on the vehicle that includes a processor and memory to detect signal quality, switch to onboard sensors for navigation, and generate status reports, allowing the vehicle to operate autonomously or hand over control to an occupant, and transmit reports to external systems via communication with other vehicles or networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the AV relies on external navigation signals (GNSS, GPS) for operation, then navigation accuracy is improved, but signal reliability deteriorates when driving through road tunnels due to occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting tunnel environments ahead of time and proactively switching from external navigation signals to onboard sensor-based navigation before signal loss occurs. This prevents the reliability issue rather than reacting after signal compromise
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard sensors (cameras, LIDAR, inertial measurement units) serve as an intermediary navigation system that bridges the gap when external GNSS/GPS signals are occluded by tunnel structures. This intermediary system maintains navigation capability without direct dependency on external signals
2Productivity
If the AV operates autonomously without external communication, then operational continuity is improved in signal-compromised environments, but the ability to provide status updates and respond to incidents deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares communication strategies in advance by identifying alternative communication paths (other vehicles, tunnel infrastructure) before complete signal loss occurs, enabling continuous operation while maintaining information flow
Solution Approach 2:
Other vehicles and tunnel communication infrastructure act as intermediaries to relay status information from the AV to external systems. The AV communicates with nearby vehicles or tunnel control systems, which then forward information to remote monitoring systems, preserving information flow despite direct external communication loss
3Reliability
If the AV switches to onboard sensors for navigation, then signal reliability is improved in tunnel environments, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard sensors are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as primary navigation sensors and as backup systems for external signal loss scenarios. This universal design reduces the need for separate dedicated backup systems, thereby limiting complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system dynamically adjusts its configuration based on environmental conditions, switching between external signal-based navigation and onboard sensor-based navigation. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to use only the necessary components for current conditions, optimizing complexity-reliability tradeoff
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods are presented regarding utilizing technology onboard an autonomous vehicle (AV) to mitigate the effects of communication signals being deleteriously affected/lost when the AV is navigating a road tunnel (e.g., where the AV is operating partially autonomously or autonomously). Prior to entering the tunnel, the AV can receive information regarding the length of the tunnel, etc., which the AV can then utilize to self-navigate the tunnel.To improve communications while in the tunnel, a second vehicle can act as a communication relay between the AV and an external navigation system (e.g., GNSS). The AV can also request an occupant drive the vehicle through the tunnel. In the event of an accident, the AV can transmit status reports to external entities such as police, traffic department, and suchlike.