Emergency Signal Detection for Autonomous Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Human drivers may fail to detect or correctly respond to emergency signals from vehicles like ambulances and police cars, especially in high-noise or low-visibility environments, and this challenge is compounded for autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system equipped with sensors to detect emergency signals, determine their position and velocity, and provide output signals to operators, including navigation instructions, to ensure safe and reliable response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human drivers rely on their own ability to detect emergency signals, then no additional detection systems are needed, but detection reliability deteriorates in high-noise or low-visibility environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices that detect emergency signals (acoustic, optical, electromagnetic) in environments where human drivers cannot reliably perceive them. These sensors act as mediators between the emergency signal source and the vehicle's response system, converting environmental signals into actionable data regardless of noise or visibility conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the human driver's biological detection mechanisms with electronic sensor systems. Instead of relying on human ears, eyes, and cognitive processing, the system uses acoustic sensors, optical sensors, and electromagnetic sensors to detect and process emergency signals, substituting mechanical/biological systems with electronic ones that are not affected by environmental limitations.
2Reliability
If drivers manually respond to emergency signals, then no automated response systems are needed, but response time and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-programmed response actions that are automatically executed when emergency signals are detected. The system has predetermined response protocols (such as pulling over, stopping, or navigating around emergency vehicles) that are prepared in advance and executed immediately upon signal detection, eliminating the time required for human decision-making and manual response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a closed-loop feedback system where sensors continuously monitor for emergency signals, the processing system analyzes the detected signals, and the vehicle's control systems automatically adjust behavior in response. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures rapid and accurate responses without human intervention, with the system continuously monitoring and adjusting based on detected emergency conditions.
3Measurement precision
If autonomous vehicles use basic sensor detection, then system complexity is minimized, but detection precision and source localization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into multiple specialized sensor components, each optimized for detecting specific types of emergency signals (acoustic sensors for sirens, optical sensors for flashing lights, electromagnetic sensors for radar signals). This segmentation allows each sensor to focus on its specific function, improving overall detection precision and source localization capability while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a method of safely and automatically navigating in the presence of emergency vehicles. A first vehicle may receive, via communication hardware, a message indicating presence of the emergency vehicle. Such a message may originate from the emergency vehicle itself and/or from infrastructure such as a smart traffic light that can sense the presence of the emergency vehicle. The first vehicle may then determine the relative location of the emergency vehicle and automatically respond appropriately by determining a safe trajectory and navigating according to that trajectory until the emergency vehicle is out of range. In some examples, the first vehicle may detect the presence of an emergency vehicle using on-board sensors such as distance measuring sensors, depth sensors, and cameras, in addition to receiving a message via communication hardware.