Redundant Drive-By-Wire Architecture for AV-Manual Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack redundancy and fail to seamlessly transition between autonomous and manual driving modes, compromising safety and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A redundant drive-by-wire vehicle architecture with parallel control paths for both autonomous and manual modes, utilizing electrical and mechanical signals to ensure continuous vehicle control, including a power subsystem, brake subsystem, and steering subsystem with mechanical redundancy and failover mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a redundant drive-by-wire vehicle architecture with parallel control paths is implemented, then reliability and safety are improved through fail-safe mechanisms, but device complexity increases due to multiple control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct autonomous control path and manual control path, each with independent components (ECUs, sensors, actuators). This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while managing complexity by organizing functions into separate, manageable modules that can operate independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive-by-wire system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both autonomous and manual driving modes through a unified architecture. The same physical components (steering actuator, brake system, throttle body) are controlled through different control paths depending on the operating mode, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If seamless transition between autonomous and manual driving modes is achieved, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to mode switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements dynamic mode switching capability that allows seamless transition between autonomous and manual driving modes. The system can dynamically adjust control authority, signal routing, and actuator control based on the current mode, providing ease of operation while managing complexity through adaptive control strategies rather than fixed architectural duplications.
3Reliability
If mechanical redundancy is provided through parallel control paths, then reliability is improved, but weight increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the autonomous and manual control paths by having them share common physical components (actuators, linkages, sensors) while maintaining independent control electronics. This merging approach provides mechanical redundancy for reliability while minimizing weight increase by avoiding complete duplication of mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically duplicating entire control systems, the patent uses electronic copying through redundant ECUs that generate control signals for the same physical actuators. This electronic copying provides reliability through redundant control logic while minimizing weight by sharing the heavy mechanical components across both control paths.
Data Source
AI summary
In variants, the vehicle can provide redundant drive by wire subsystems that are operable in both an autonomous (AV) mode and manual driving modes.