Emergency Vehicle Parking via Sensor-Map Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency assistance systems are unable to optimally position vehicles during automatic stopping due to insufficient detail in digital maps, potentially leading to vehicles being stopped in traffic lanes instead of safe areas like hard shoulders, causing traffic obstructions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize surroundings sensors to register and categorize stationary objects and conditions, determining an optimized emergency stopping position by accounting for topography and drivability, allowing the vehicle to be safely parked between reflector posts, trees, or near road markings, even if a hard shoulder is not available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the stopping position is selected based on digital maps, then the vehicle can be automatically positioned in an emergency situation, but the vehicle may be stopped in a traffic lane instead of a safe area due to insufficient map detail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines digital map data with real-time sensor data from the vehicle's surroundings system. The control device merges information about hard shoulders from digital maps with actual detected objects and conditions from sensors (cameras, radar, LIDAR) to make a reliable stopping position decision. This fusion allows the system to use automation while ensuring safety by verifying the stopping area is actually clear and suitable.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system acts as an intermediary between the digital map information and the final stopping decision. The sensors detect and categorize stationary objects (trees, reflector posts, barriers) and verify conditions (surface quality, drivability) to bridge the gap between theoretical map data and actual safe stopping conditions, enabling reliable automated positioning.
2Productivity
If digital maps are used to determine stopping position, then automated stopping can be performed, but the vehicle may obstruct traffic by stopping in an active lane
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives feedback from sensor systems during the stopping process. The control device monitors detected objects and conditions in real-time, adjusting the stopping position selection based on actual surroundings rather than relying solely on pre-planned digital map routes. This feedback loop ensures the vehicle stops in a safe area that does not obstruct traffic flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping position determination is made dynamic by allowing the control device to adapt the selected stopping location based on real-time sensor data. Rather than committing to a fixed position from digital maps, the system dynamically adjusts the stopping position within the emergency stopping position region based on detected stationary objects and surface conditions, ensuring the vehicle stops safely without obstructing traffic.
3Device complexity
If the vehicle stops based on digital map information alone, then the stopping process is simple, but the positioning precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and categorization of stationary objects and conditions before finalizing the stopping position. The control device uses sensor data to pre-identify suitable stopping areas, detect potential obstacles, and assess surface drivability in advance, enabling precise positioning without requiring overly complex real-time decision-making systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for safely parking a vehicle, wherein after identifying an emergency situation of the motor vehicle, an emergency stopping position region is selected from a digital map, and the vehicle is parked within the emergency stopping position region by an automatic driving function. The method includes registering the surroundings, determining stationary objects and conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle within the selected emergency stopping position region, checking the conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle and the stationary objects within the emergency stopping position region regarding parking the vehicle in an optimized manner and determining an optimized emergency stopping position within the emergency stopping position region, and parking the vehicle at the optimized emergency stopping position within the emergency stopping position region using the automatic driving function.