Autonomous Driving Collision Direction Control Using Airbag Accelerometers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles at level 3 automation struggle to detect collisions that cannot be sensed by external sensors or the airbag control unit alone, leading to potential safety issues during autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing an acceleration sensor mounted in the airbag control unit to determine collision occurrence and direction, triggering emergency actions such as braking or lane changes based on acceleration changes in three axes, ensuring safe vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external sensors and airbag control unit are used for collision detection, then the system can detect most collisions, but collisions occurring in undetectable directions or types may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the acceleration sensor from the airbag control unit with the autonomous driving control system. By combining these existing components and sharing data between them, the system achieves more comprehensive collision detection without adding separate dedicated sensors, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration sensor in the airbag control unit is utilized for dual purposes: both airbag deployment decisions and autonomous driving collision detection. This multi-functional use of existing hardware extends the detection capabilities to all directions without requiring additional specialized sensors for each direction.
2Measurement precision
If the acceleration sensor in the airbag control unit is utilized for collision detection, then detection coverage is improved, but the system must process and interpret acceleration data from multiple axes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collision determination unit that acts as an intermediary between the acceleration sensor and the autonomous driving control system. This unit processes the raw acceleration data from three axes, determines collision occurrence and direction, and outputs standardized control signals, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collision detection function is segmented into distinct modules: the acceleration sensor for data acquisition, the collision determination unit for analysis and decision-making, and the autonomous driving control system for execution. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through modular design.
3Reliability
If emergency actions are taken based on collision detection, then vehicle safety is improved, but the system must determine collision direction and select appropriate responses
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines emergency response strategies for different collision directions (front, rear, left, right) and stores them in advance. When a collision is detected, the collision determination unit quickly matches the detected collision direction with the pre-programmed response, enabling rapid automated emergency actions without complex real-time decision-making, thus improving safety while keeping the control logic manageable.
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
Effectively detects and responds to collisions not detectable by external sensors or airbag control units, enabling safe emergency actions like braking or lane changes to prevent or mitigate collisions, enhancing autonomous driving safety.
Implementation Method 1
determine whether a collision has occurred using an acceleration sensor mounted in an airbag control unit during the autonomous driving, determine a collision direction based on a change in acceleration of three axes obtained by the acceleration sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
A device and a method for controlling autonomous driving are provided The device includes non-transitory memory storing instructions executable to control an autonomous driving; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to determine whether a collision has occurred using an acceleration sensor mounted on an airbag control unit during the autonomous driving, determine a collision direction based on a change in acceleration of three axes obtained by the acceleration sensor, and perform an emergency action by controlling at least one of longitudinal direction travel or transverse direction travel based on the collision direction.