Distributed State Estimation for Redundant Vehicle Control Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems lack efficient and reliable mechanisms for distributed system state estimation, particularly in steering and braking systems, which are critical for ensuring safety and reliability in autonomous control.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for distributed system state estimation that includes receiving quality indicators and partial redundancy classifiers from each signal path, generating communication interface qualifiers and system redundancy diagnostic statuses, determining redundancy topology classifications and states, and generating redundant system responses based on resource availability, without an external supervisor unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If distributed system state estimation is implemented without an external supervisor unit, then system complexity is reduced and autonomy is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring system state increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidsystem state estimation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-monitoring by having each signal path independently evaluate its own quality indicators and partial redundancy classifiers. The distributed architecture allows each component to contribute to overall system state estimation without requiring an external supervisor, enabling the system to serve itself in detecting and measuring its state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the monitoring function into segmented tasks distributed across multiple signal paths. Each signal path independently generates quality indicators and redundancy classifiers for its own signals, and these segmented evaluations are then aggregated to form the overall system state estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple signal paths with redundancy are used, then system reliability is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring control path faults increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol path fault detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Each signal path continuously provides feedback through quality indicators and partial redundancy classifiers that reflect the current state of that path. This feedback mechanism enables the system to monitor and detect faults in control paths by comparing the feedback signals from multiple redundant paths against expected performance criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The quality indicators and redundancy classifiers serve as intermediary metrics that translate complex control path states into comparable diagnostic information. These intermediaries facilitate fault detection by providing standardized measures that can be evaluated across different redundant signal paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic reconfiguration of redundant entities is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but the loss of time for system state determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidsystem state determination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of redundancy states and topology identification in advance, maintaining ready-to-use diagnostic information from each signal path. When reconfiguration is needed, the system can quickly determine the current state using pre-established quality indicators and redundancy classifiers, reducing the time required for dynamic reconfiguration decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12585515B2Systems and methods for distributed system state estimation

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORP

AI summary

A method for distributed system state estimation includes receiving, from each signal path of a plurality of signal paths associated with a computing system, a quality indicator and a partial redundancy classifier. The method also includes generating a communication interface qualifier and a system redundancy diagnostic status based on the quality indicator and the partial redundancy classifier, receiving system availability information for at least one component associated with a respective signal path, and determining a redundancy topology classification and a redundancy state. The method also includes receiving, for the respective signal path, resource availability status information, and generating, for the respective signal path, a redundant system response based on the resource availability status information for the respective signal path, the redundancy topology classification for the respective signal path, and the redundancy state for the respective signal path.