Driver Assistance System Redundancy via Secondary Control Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver assistance systems require driver intervention in case of system failure, lacking reliability for automated driving and reduced functionality during errors or driver disengagement.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance system with a central control unit and a secondary control unit that calculates and outputs control signals for actuators, utilizing multiple sensors and algorithms to ensure continued vehicle control and reduced functionality in case of primary system failure, prioritizing reliability and resource efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single central control unit is used for driver assistance applications, then the system structure is simple and cost-effective, but the system reliability decreases because the driver must intervene immediately upon any failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into a primary central control unit for normal operation and a secondary control unit for failure scenarios. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity during normal operation while providing redundancy when needed, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary control unit is pre-configured with reduced driver assistance functions that can take over immediately upon detection of primary unit failure. This beforehand preparation ensures continuous vehicle safety without requiring driver intervention, cushioning against the reliability risk before it materializes.
2Productivity
If full driver assistance functions are maintained during system failure, then the level of service is high, but the resource consumption increases and may not be sustainable
Solution Approach 1:
During failure operation, the secondary control unit provides partial driver assistance functions rather than full functionality. This partial action approach maintains sufficient vehicle safety and control while reducing computational resource consumption to sustainable levels, accepting reduced comfort features to ensure system sustainability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the second control unit provides reduced driver assistance functions, then the resource efficiency is improved, but the comfort requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary control unit is designed with local quality optimization, providing essential safety and control functions with high reliability while deliberately omitting comfort-oriented features. This localized functional differentiation ensures resource efficiency is improved without compromising critical vehicle safety, accepting that comfort requirements will not be fully met during failure mode operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A driver assistance system with improved fault tolerance and a method for the same are provided. An actuator control variable for a reduced driver assistance application with reduced functionality is a calculated in a second control unit in case of unavailability of an actuator control variable for the main driver assistance application with full functionality as determined by a first control unit.