Cooperative Vehicle Monitoring for Unconnected Vehicle Action Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle monitoring systems are inadequate in detecting and estimating the driving behaviors of unconnected vehicles due to limited data sharing and incomplete understanding of the driving context, which affects traffic safety and driving experience.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that captures sensor data from connected vehicles to estimate vehicle actions of unconnected vehicles by wirelessly receiving operating characteristics from other connected vehicles, enabling comprehensive monitoring and adaptation of vehicle actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If data is collected only by individual connected vehicles in their limited surrounding area, then each vehicle can operate independently, but the object detection becomes incomplete and lacks comprehensive understanding of driving context
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sensor data from multiple connected vehicles to create a comprehensive view of unconnected vehicles. Each connected vehicle shares its sensor data through wireless communication, allowing the system to merge partial observations into complete object detection and driving behavior estimation, resolving the contradiction between data completeness and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal data sharing framework where sensor data from any connected vehicle can be used to monitor any unconnected vehicle in the network. This multi-functional approach allows the same data collection infrastructure to serve multiple purposes: individual vehicle safety, collective object detection, and comprehensive driving context understanding
2Reliability
If a large number of connected vehicles are required to operate the monitoring system, then comprehensive data coverage is achieved, but the system becomes less practical and more complex to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by allowing the monitoring system to function with any number of connected vehicles rather than requiring a fixed threshold. Each connected vehicle contributes its sensor data to the collective monitoring effort, and the system adapts its estimation accuracy based on the actual number of participants, making deployment flexible across different traffic scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation based on the number of connected vehicles available. When more connected vehicles are present, the system can provide more accurate driving behavior estimation. When fewer connected vehicles are available, the system continues to operate with reduced but still useful functionality, rather than requiring a fixed minimum number of vehicles
3Measurement precision
If existing systems rely on collected vehicle operation data to estimate driving behaviors, then connected vehicles can be monitored, but unconnected vehicles cannot be estimated due to lack of their operation data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces connected vehicles as intermediaries to observe and report on unconnected vehicles. Instead of requiring direct data from unconnected vehicles, the system uses sensor data captured by connected vehicles viewing the unconnected vehicles from their surrounding areas. This intermediary approach enables monitoring of unconnected vehicles without needing their operation data
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional approach of directly collecting operation data from vehicle systems with an external observation method using sensor data from connected vehicles. Instead of accessing internal vehicle data streams, the system uses cameras, LIDAR, and other sensors to capture external manifestations of vehicle behavior, enabling estimation without direct data access
4Loss of information
If existing solutions cannot consider the impact of surrounding traffic on driving behaviors, then individual vehicle analysis is simpler, but comprehensive traffic context understanding is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges sensor data from multiple connected vehicles to comprehensively analyze the traffic context surrounding unconnected vehicles. By combining observations from different spatial perspectives and time points, the system can identify how surrounding traffic affects unconnected vehicle behavior, achieving complete driving context understanding through data integration
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, a method captures, at a first connected vehicle situated in a travel path segment, first sensor data describing an environment proximate to the first connected vehicle. The environment includes a first unconnected vehicle. The method wirelessly receives, via a communication network at the first connected vehicle from a second connected vehicle situated in the travel path segment, second sensor data describing one or more operating characteristics of the first unconnected vehicle. The method estimates, using the first sensor data and the second sensor data, a vehicle action of the first unconnected vehicle.