Dynamic Vehicle Perimeter Definition for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and partially autonomous vehicles face challenges in dynamically adapting to changing environmental conditions and human behavior, such as unpredictable human actions when stopped, which can lead to potential collisions due to limitations in sensor reliance and reaction time.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle processor determines and wirelessly shares an expanded vehicle perimeter, adjusting based on predefined events like stopping, door or compartment opening, and speed limits, to inform other vehicles of potential dynamic situations, using V2X communication to enhance situational awareness and avoid collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle uses a fixed perimeter definition, then the system complexity is low and communication data is simple, but the system cannot adapt to dynamic situations such as stopped vehicles or open doors, reducing safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic perimeter definition by detecting vehicle state changes (stopped condition, door opening, compartment access) and automatically adjusting the perimeter accordingly. The processor determines the vehicle's current state and defines an expanded perimeter that accounts for potential human actions, transforming the static perimeter concept into a dynamic one that adapts to real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively expanding the vehicle perimeter before actual hazards occur. When the vehicle detects it has stopped or a door is opening, it pre-defines an expanded perimeter that anticipates potential human movements (exiting vehicle, accessing compartments), allowing other vehicles to prepare for potential hazards before they materialize.
2Reliability
If a vehicle dynamically expands its perimeter to account for potential human actions, then collision avoidance improves, but the communication data size and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by expanding the perimeter only in specific directions and areas where hazards are most likely to occur based on the detected vehicle state. Rather than uniformly expanding in all directions, the system defines an expanded perimeter that is localized to areas of potential risk (e.g., sides where doors may open, areas where occupants might exit), optimizing communication data by transmitting only the necessary perimeter adjustments.
3Reliability
If the vehicle perimeter is expanded to include paths for potential human movement, then the safety margin increases, but the space available for other vehicles decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic perimeter adjustment to balance safety and road space utilization. The expanded perimeter is not fixed but adapts based on the vehicle's current state and detected hazards. When the vehicle is moving normally, the perimeter remains compact. When the vehicle stops or doors open, the perimeter dynamically expands only to the extent necessary to cover potential human movement paths, minimizing the impact on road space while maintaining adequate safety margins.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle may determine that it is stopped and detect a perimeter-modification event predefined as correlating to a changed vehicle perimeter. The vehicle may further, responsive to the perimeter-modification event, define an expanded vehicle perimeter, larger than a perimeter predefined as representing the vehicle in travel. The perimeter expansion may be done in accordance with a predefined modification associated with the detected perimeter modification event. The vehicle may additionally wirelessly share the expanded vehicle perimeter with at least one other vehicle.