Onboard Disaster Mitigation System for Connected Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connected vehicles with hidden vehicle functionality are not effectively unlocked during natural disasters and extreme events, limiting their ability to assist drivers in emergency situations, as existing solutions rely on wireless networks and remote cloud servers, which may be unavailable during such events.
Innovation Solution
A mitigation system installed in connected vehicles that detects natural disasters and extreme events, allowing it to automatically unlock hidden vehicle functionality, including ADAS and telematics, even without access to a wireless network, by using onboard vehicle computers to monitor weather and disaster data and issue unlock commands based on geographic proximity and driver context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hidden vehicle functionality is locked by default, then vehicle security and controlled access are improved, but driver safety during natural disasters is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the access state parameter of hidden vehicle functionality based on disaster detection. When a natural disaster is detected through weather data or disaster declarations, the system automatically transitions the functionality from locked to unlocked state, allowing features like extended battery range or enhanced ADAS to become available without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The mitigation system acts as an intermediary between the locked vehicle functionality and the driver. It monitors disaster conditions and automatically mediates the unlocking process, eliminating the need for driver action while maintaining security during normal operations. The system serves as a smart intermediary that responds to environmental triggers
2Extent of automation
If remote cloud servers are used to unlock functionality, then centralized control is improved, but system reliability during disasters is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the unlocking capability by implementing both cloud-based and onboard disaster detection. The onboard computer with disaster mitigation software can independently detect disasters and unlock functionality without requiring cloud server communication, creating a segmented architecture that maintains reliability when cloud connectivity is unavailable
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-installing disaster mitigation software and disaster data on the onboard vehicle computer. This allows the vehicle to immediately respond to disasters using locally stored information without needing to contact remote servers, ensuring functionality is unlocked even when cloud infrastructure is compromised
3Extent of automation
If wireless network access is required for unlocking, then remote updates are improved, but response time during emergencies is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-loading disaster mitigation software and relevant disaster data onto the onboard computer before any emergency occurs. This allows immediate local processing and unlocking of functionality without waiting for wireless network communication during the critical emergency response window
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's onboard computer performs self-service by autonomously detecting disasters using local sensors and pre-stored disaster data, then automatically unlocking hidden functionality without requiring external wireless commands. The system serves itself by maintaining local capability to respond independently of network availability
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a system for providing disaster mitigation for connected vehicles having hidden vehicle functionality. The method includes determining, by an onboard vehicle computer of a connected vehicle, that an extreme event is occurring. Further, the method includes automatically unlocking, by the onboard vehicle computer, hidden vehicle functionality of the connected vehicle responsive to determining that the extreme event is occurring. The hidden vehicle functionality may include one or more of: extending a battery range of the connected vehicle; and modifying a telematics functionality of the connected vehicle.