Vehicle Door Assist System Obstacle Detection Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Driverless taxis face challenges with vehicle power doors left open, preventing the vehicle from taking off and completing taxi services, as existing solutions do not effectively handle obstacles in the closing path.
Innovation Solution
A door assist system that receives remote signals to close the power door, using surroundings detecting sensors to check for obstacles and refrain from closing if they interfere with the door's path, ensuring safe operation and preventing collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door assist system closes the power door based on remote signals without obstacle detection, then the door closing operation is efficient and simple, but the system may collide with or pinch obstacles causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary obstacle detection using surroundings detecting sensors before activating the power door closing operation. The control unit checks for obstacles in the door closing path in advance, and only proceeds with closing when the path is clear, thereby preventing collisions and pinching hazards before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the remote signaling system and the power door actuator. It receives remote closing signals, processes them through obstacle detection logic, and only commands the power door to close when safety conditions are met, thereby mediating between operational efficiency and safety requirements.
2Reliability
If the door assist system continuously monitors obstacles during door closing, then the safety is improved, but the response time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs obstacle detection periodically at critical stages of the door closing operation rather than continuously throughout the entire process. The control unit checks for obstacles at the beginning of closing and near the end of closing, allowing the door to move freely during the intermediate phase, thereby reducing response time while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a preliminary obstacle check before initiating door closing and another check near the end of the closing sequence. This staged approach ensures safety at critical moments without requiring continuous monitoring, thereby reducing energy consumption and response time while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A door assist system of a vehicle may handle a remotely triggered operation of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system receives from an off-board system a door closure signal requesting the door assist system to activate closing of a power door of the vehicle. The door assist system further determines with input from one or more surroundings detecting sensors adapted to capture a surrounding proximate the vehicle, that an obstacle is in vicinity of the vehicle. Moreover, the door assist system refrains from activating closing of the power door when the obstacle is determined to interfere and/or potentially interfere with a projected closing path of the power door. A door assist system, and a vehicle comprising such a door assist system may perform the foregoing remotely triggered operation.