Vehicle Bus Impedance Identification for Autonomous ECU Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Third-party companies face challenges in effectively interfacing with proprietary vehicle systems to add autonomous capabilities to mainstream consumer vehicles due to limited documentation and information from automobile manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle interface (AVI) system that uses bus impedance to identify and control electronic control units (ECUs) by observing impedance on a shared bus, such as a CAN bus, to facilitate communication and control over vehicle systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary technologies are used by vehicle manufacturers, then system security and control are improved, but interface complexity and documentation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between the autonomous vehicle controller and the vehicle's proprietary ECUs. This intermediary translates generic control commands into ECU-specific protocols, shielding the autonomous control system from the complexity of proprietary interfaces while maintaining secure control over vehicle systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the vehicle control architecture into distinct layers: the autonomous control layer, the translation layer (intermediary), and the ECU execution layer. This segmentation isolates the autonomous control logic from proprietary ECU complexities, allowing independent development and testing while maintaining system security.
2Adaptability or versatility
If limited documentation is provided by manufacturers, then proprietary protection is improved, but integration time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service capabilities through automated ECU identification and characterization. The intermediary automatically discovers ECUs on the bus, identifies their functions through impedance measurement, and generates the necessary integration mappings without requiring extensive manufacturer documentation, thereby reducing integration time while maintaining proprietary protections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from documentation-dependent integration to parameter-based identification. By measuring electrical impedance parameters of ECUs on the bus, the system automatically characterizes ECUs and generates integration configurations, eliminating the need for extensive proprietary documentation while preserving manufacturer intellectual property.
3Measurement precision
If impedance measurement is used to identify ECUs, then identification accuracy is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual ECU identification methods with electrical impedance measurement. By substituting physical inspection or documentation review with automated electrical measurements, the system achieves precise ECU identification while reducing measurement complexity through standardized electrical testing procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient identification and control of vehicle systems, allowing seamless integration of autonomous capabilities by determining ECU sources and generating synthesized data to manage vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of electronic control units has a different impedance over the shared bus
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods that facilitate identifying and controlling the systems and subsystems in a vehicle to enable autonomous operation of the vehicle are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle interface (AVI) (the "AVI control system") can interface with and control the system of the vehicle, thereby enabling control of the vehicle as a whole. Electronic control units may be associated with each of the systems and subsystems in the vehicle, and the AVI may interface with and control these electronic control units over a shared data bus. In order to control particular electronic control units, the systems and methods provide for sampling data packets transmitted by the electronic control units on the shared data bus, measuring the impedance of the shared data bus when data packets are being transmitted, and identifying particular electronic control units based on the measured impedance.