Bladder Safety System for Autonomous Vehicle Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in effectively avoiding collisions due to inadequate positioning of impact-absorbing structures and insufficient time to maneuver, leading to potential damage and inconvenience to passengers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an active safety system that utilizes sensors to detect potential collisions, predict object trajectories, and activate safety systems such as acoustic beam-steering arrays, light emitters, and bladder systems to mitigate impact forces and prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle relies on passive impact-absorbing structures (e.g., crumple zones), then the vehicle has basic collision protection, but the impact-absorbing structure may not be positioned at the point of impact at the time of collision, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the impact-absorbing structure movable rather than fixed. The system actively repositions the impact-absorbing structure to the predicted point of impact before collision occurs, transforming a static protective element into a dynamic one that adapts to real-time collision scenarios, thereby resolving the contradiction between having basic protection and being able to effectively mitigate impact
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting the point of impact in advance and repositioning the impact-absorbing structure to that location before the collision occurs. This proactive repositioning ensures the protective structure is optimally positioned when needed, rather than relying on passive placement that may not align with the actual impact point
2Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle has adequate time to maneuver and orient, then collision avoidance or damage mitigation is possible, but in many cases insufficient time is available to react
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting the point of impact and repositioning the impact-absorbing structure before the collision occurs. This advance preparation eliminates the need for rapid reactive maneuvers, effectively compensating for insufficient reaction time by having the protective system already in place when the collision happens
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical collision avoidance maneuvers (steering, braking) with a predictive repositioning system that uses sensors, prediction algorithms, and active structural adjustment. This substitution allows the vehicle to mitigate collision damage without requiring complex real-time mechanical responses, thereby overcoming time constraints
3Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle uses traditional safety systems, then basic protection is provided, but the vehicle may still suffer damage and be taken out of service, causing inconvenience to passengers
Solution Approach 1:
By predicting the collision point and repositioning the impact-absorbing structure in advance, the system ensures optimal protection is in place before impact, significantly reducing collision damage and preventing vehicle downtime, thus maintaining operational continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by having the impact-absorbing structure already positioned and ready at the predicted impact point before the collision occurs. This pre-positioned cushioning maximizes energy absorption and damage mitigation, preventing severe damage that would take the vehicle out of service
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input in real-time to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle may be a potential collision threat to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may be configured to deploy one or more bladders positioned external to the autonomous vehicle to absorb forces from an impact to the vehicle by the object. A perception system of the vehicle may receive a sensor signal and generate object data associated with the object. A planner system of the vehicle may process the object data to predict an impact time and an impact location on the vehicle. The planner system may cause a drive system of the vehicle to maneuver the vehicle to position an impact-absorbing structure and/or one or more bladders of the vehicle to coincide with the predicted impact location.