Electric Vehicle Collision Avoidance Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle control systems lack precision in navigating narrow spaces and often result in collisions with walls or objects due to operator error, particularly in vehicles operated by inexperienced users.

Innovation Solution

An electric vehicle system featuring multiple instructors and a controller that prioritizes instructions from a third instructor for collision avoidance, allowing precise operation and safe movement even when operators make mistakes, utilizing sensors and input devices to determine operator expertise and adjust control inputs accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electric vehicle uses a single instructor operated by the occupant for control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to operator error causing collisions with walls or objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into multiple independent instructors (first instructor for acceleration/deceleration, second instructor for direction, third instructor for collision avoidance) that can operate autonomously or in coordination. This segmentation allows the system to maintain ease of operation while improving reliability through distributed control functions and redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that receives instructions from multiple instructors and arbitrates between them. The controller integrates inputs from the first, second, and third instructors, prioritizing collision avoidance instructions when necessary, thereby resolving conflicts and ensuring safe operation while maintaining responsiveness to operator intent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the electric vehicle prioritizes collision avoidance instructions from a third instructor, then the reliability is improved by preventing collisions, but the device complexity increases due to multiple instructors and control logic

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple instructor functions are merged into a unified control system managed by a single controller. The controller integrates instructions from the first instructor (acceleration/deceleration), second instructor (direction), and third instructor (collision avoidance), combining their functions into a coordinated control architecture that improves reliability without requiring completely separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is designed with multi-functionality to handle various instructor inputs and prioritize them according to safety requirements. It can process acceleration commands, direction commands, and collision avoidance commands, automatically prioritizing collision avoidance when necessary, thereby achieving universal control functionality that improves reliability while managing complexity through a single multi-functional component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the electric vehicle uses obstacle detection sensor to detect obstacles ahead, then the reliability is improved by avoiding collisions, but the ease of operation deteriorates as the occupant must perform special operations such as releasing the obstacle detection sensor to operate in narrow spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The collision avoidance function is extracted from the occupant's control responsibilities and assigned to an autonomous third instructor that operates independently. The third instructor continuously monitors obstacle detection sensor data and automatically issues collision avoidance instructions without requiring the occupant to perform special operations, thereby maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation in narrow spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The third instructor provides self-service collision avoidance by autonomously monitoring obstacle detection sensor data and issuing deceleration or stop instructions when obstacles are detected. The system serves itself by automatically prioritizing collision avoidance instructions over other control inputs, eliminating the need for the occupant to manually disengage or modify sensor operation, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3581426B1Electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3581426B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3581426B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3581426B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric vehicle includes a first instructor operated by a first operator; a second instructor operated by a second operator; a third instructor performing an instruction of deceleration or stop by determining a possibility of collision; a controller for selecting one of instructions from the first instructor, the second instructor, and the third instructor; and a driver driving according to the instruction from the controller, in which in a case of receiving the instructions from at least the first instructor and the third instructor, the controller preferentially selects the instruction from the third instructor to the instruction from the first instructor.