Automated Driving Redundancy Switching for Lower Compute Energy

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated driving systems for motor vehicles consume significant energy and resources due to the need for redundant computer applications to ensure robustness, which can lead to inefficiencies in resource allocation and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method where a vehicle controller dynamically adjusts the state of redundant applications based on received vehicle operating data from other vehicles, allowing them to switch from an active to a standby state, reducing the frequency of computer instance execution and conserving resources while maintaining safety levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant computer applications are executed to ensure robustness, then system reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the execution state of redundant applications based on real-time communication conditions. When V2X communication is reliable, redundant applications switch to standby mode; when communication degrades, they return to active mode, creating a dynamic balance between reliability and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of redundant applications by switching between active and standby states. This parameter change allows the same application to operate at different resource consumption levels depending on system needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If redundant computer applications are executed to ensure robustness, then system reliability is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the execution state of redundant applications based on real-time communication conditions. When V2X communication is reliable, redundant applications switch to standby mode; when communication degrades, they return to active mode, creating a dynamic balance between reliability and resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of redundant applications by switching between active and standby states. This parameter change allows the same application to operate at different resource consumption levels depending on system needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If redundant applications are switched to standby state, then energy consumption is reduced, but system robustness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsystem robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors communication quality and provides feedback to control the state of redundant applications. This closed-loop control ensures that redundancy is maintained only when necessary, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and system robustness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

V2X communication acts as an intermediary that validates the environment model, allowing the system to reduce redundant computation while maintaining safety through external verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12140950B2Automated driving of a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 VOLKSWAGEN AG

AI summary

Technologies and techniques for the at least the partially automated driving of a motor vehicle. A first application and at least one redundant second application provide output data depending on motor vehicle operating data and/or environmental data. Vehicle driving data for the at least partially automated driving of the motor vehicle are determined depending on the output data. Vehicle operating data from another vehicle are received, and, depending on the vehicle operating data, the at least one redundant second application switches from an active state to a standby state in which a computer instance of a computer unit used by the at least one redundant second application is at least executed at a lower frequency than in the active state.