Camera and Washer Spray Diagnostic via Inter-Vehicle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, it is challenging to determine whether cameras and spray devices are operating properly, which can lead to faults that affect navigation and safety, especially in platooning scenarios where vehicles rely on accurate sensor data and communication.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic system that includes cameras, spray devices, and computing devices that actuate the spray device, analyze images for faults, and communicate through a network to determine and remediate issues, such as navigating the vehicle to a service facility if a fault is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles are equipped with cameras and spray devices for navigation and cleaning, then the vehicle's operational capability and safety are improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring faults in these components increases
Solution Approach 1:
A second vehicle acts as an intermediary to capture images of the first vehicle's spray device and camera. The second vehicle's imaging system serves as a mediator to indirectly observe and diagnose the first vehicle's components, solving the difficulty of self-detection in autonomous vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where images captured by the second vehicle are transmitted back to the first vehicle's computer for analysis. The computer analyzes the images to determine spray device faults and provides feedback for diagnostic purposes, enabling continuous monitoring and fault detection.
2Productivity
If vehicles in a platoon rely on accurate sensor data and V2V communication for compact formation travel, then travel efficiency and roadway congestion reduction are improved, but the impact of sensor faults on navigation safety increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary fault detection by analyzing images of the spray device and camera before faults can critically impact navigation safety. By proactively identifying issues through diagnostic imaging, the system can address problems before they compromise the autonomous vehicle's operational safety in the platoon.
Solution Approach 2:
Continuous feedback through image analysis and fault determination enables real-time monitoring of camera and spray device status. This feedback mechanism allows the autonomous vehicle to maintain navigation safety by detecting and responding to component faults that could otherwise compromise platoon operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a computer programmed to actuate a spray device on a first vehicle and to receive an image, from a second vehicle, of the actuated spray device. The computer determines whether a spray device fault exists based at least on the image of the actuated spray device, and transmits the spray device fault via a first vehicle communications network.