Cloud-Based Traffic Policy Management for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating areas with varying traffic rules and restrictions, as existing systems lack the capability to integrate local traffic regulations and switch to manual mode when necessary, potentially leading to non-compliance with laws and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the vehicle's location, accesses a repository of traffic rules, and switches to manual mode if rules are unavailable or prohibit autonomous functionality, ensuring compliance with local regulations by applying hierarchical traffic rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles operate without integrating local traffic rules, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential non-compliance with laws and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic rule integration by dividing the operational area into different geographic zones, each with its own traffic rule set. The system selectively activates only the traffic rules relevant to the current geographic zone, rather than implementing all possible traffic rules globally. This segmentation approach improves reliability by ensuring local compliance while managing system complexity through selective activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading traffic rule sets into the autonomous vehicle's system before the vehicle enters a new geographic zone. The GPS system identifies upcoming zones and proactively loads the corresponding traffic rules, ensuring compliance is ready in advance. This prevents last-minute compliance issues while managing complexity through scheduled, zone-based rule loading rather than continuous rule management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles continuously update traffic rules from cloud, then adaptability is improved, but use of energy worsens due to continuous communication and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by updating traffic rules at specific intervals or when entering new geographic zones, rather than continuously. The GPS system triggers rule updates based on location changes, and the cloud communication occurs periodically when zone transitions are detected. This periodic update mechanism maintains adaptability to local traffic rules while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and caching traffic rule sets for anticipated geographic zones before the vehicle actually enters them. The cloud communication and data processing occur in advance when the vehicle is approaching a new zone, allowing the vehicle to be prepared for upcoming rule changes without requiring continuous real-time updates. This reduces energy consumption by batching communications rather than maintaining constant connectivity.
3Reliability
If autonomous vehicles switch to manual mode when rules are unavailable, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced operational capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operational environment into geographic zones with defined traffic rule availability. When the vehicle enters a zone where traffic rules are unavailable, only the autonomous functions requiring those specific rules are deactivated, while other autonomous capabilities continue to operate. This selective deactivation maintains safety compliance for unavailable rules while preserving productivity through continued operation of other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on the availability of traffic rules for the current geographic zone. Rather than a static manual/autonomous switch, the system flexibly transitions between autonomous and manual modes for specific functions based on real-time rule availability. This dynamic approach improves reliability by ensuring safety compliance when rules are unavailable while maintaining productivity through continued autonomous operation where rules exist.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for cloud integration for autonomous vehicles is provided. An embodiment may include receiving a location for the autonomous vehicle from a global positioning system, may also include determining a rule area in which the autonomous vehicle is located based on the received location, may include identifying a traffic rule set associated with the determined rule area, may also include, in response to determining that the identified traffic rule set is not available for the determined rule area, transmitting a manual mode alert to a user, and may include enabling a manual mode in the autonomous vehicle.