Fallback Braking Control for Platooning Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Platooning systems in autonomous vehicle convoys face a high risk of collision due to short distances between vehicles, exacerbated by automatic emergency braking systems, which can lead to sudden full braking and increased accident risk in case of system failure.

Innovation Solution

A fallback safety system that detects platooning system failures and adjusts braking acceleration based on distance to the vehicle ahead, initiating braking and gradually increasing or decreasing it to manage spacing and prevent collisions, while also providing visual, acoustic, or haptic warnings to the driver and potentially deactivating or activating emergency braking assistants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic emergency braking systems are activated to prevent collisions when distance to obstacle is below minimum distance, then collision prevention is improved, but sudden full braking increases accident risk for following vehicles in platooning operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidaccident risk for following vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the braking parameter from fixed full braking to variable braking intensity. The emergency braking assistant is configured to adapt the braking acceleration continuously or discontinuously based on the detected distance to the vehicle in front, transforming the binary braking state (full braking or no braking) into a graduated response that maintains collision prevention while reducing harmful effects on following vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces dynamic adaptation of braking behavior. Instead of static full braking activation, the emergency braking assistant dynamically adjusts braking acceleration based on real-time distance measurements, allowing the braking response to evolve over time and distance, thereby preventing collisions while minimizing disruption to the platooning formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If platooning systems operate with short following distances to enable close vehicle spacing, then productivity is improved, but collision risk increases when platooning system malfunctions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle spacing efficiencyVSAvoidcollision risk during system failure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency braking assistant serves as an intermediary safety system between the platooning control system and the vehicles. When the platooning system fails, this intermediary system activates to provide the necessary braking intervention, bridging the gap left by the failed primary control system and preventing collisions despite the short distances inherent in platooning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential platooning failures by having the emergency braking assistant stand by as a pre-configured safety net. This prior cushioning ensures that when short distances become dangerous due to system failure, an immediate braking response is available to prevent collisions, allowing the system to maintain short following distances for productivity while having protective measures in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Loss of time

If emergency braking assistant initiates full braking immediately upon detecting short distance to obstacle, then collision response time is improved, but following vehicles at short distance face increased accident risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking response timeVSAvoidaccident risk for following line vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11613274B2Fallback protection system for platooning systems

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 ZF ACTIVE SAFETY GMBH

AI summary

A fallback safety system for a vehicle equipped with a platooning system is configured to detect an operating state and a functional failure of the platooning system of the vehicle and to detect a distance of the vehicle to a vehicle driving in front with a sensor system of the vehicle. Further, in the case of a detected functional failure of the platooning system during a convoy driving operation of the vehicle controlled by the platooning system, the fallback safety system is configured to initiate braking of the vehicle and to adjust a braking acceleration of the vehicle during the initiated braking depending on the detected distance of the vehicle to the vehicle driving in front.