Autonomous Vehicle Fallback Sensor Domains for Partial Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles face challenges in maintaining functionality when sensors or components fail due to degradation or environmental conditions, which can impact driving capabilities, and complete redundancy is often infeasible due to size, cost, and placement constraints.
Innovation Solution
Implementing partially redundant architectures with fallback configurations for sensors, computing systems, and power distribution, utilizing distinct sensor domains and independent computing subsystems to ensure minimum functionality and safe operation even in failure scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complete redundancy of every component and subsystem is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial redundancy by providing backup control units only for critical functions rather than complete redundancy of all components. The system includes a main control unit and a backup control unit that can take over specific functions, achieving adequate reliability without the complexity and cost of duplicating every component.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into functional modules with the main control unit handling primary operations and a separate backup control unit ready to take over critical functions. This segmentation allows redundancy to be applied selectively to specific control functions rather than the entire system.
2Reliability
If complete redundancy of every component and subsystem is implemented, then reliability is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial redundancy by providing backup control capabilities only for critical safety functions rather than duplicating all sensors, actuators, and control units. This selective approach significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate reliability for safe operation.
3Reliability
If redundant sensor systems and control units are added, then reliability is improved, but vehicle size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial redundancy by adding backup control units and selective sensor redundancy only where critical for safety, rather than duplicating the entire sensor suite. This minimizes the volume increase while providing adequate reliability for fallback operation.
4Reliability
If the vehicle operates in fallback mode with reduced functionality, then reliability is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between full functionality mode and fallback mode based on the operational status of sensors and control units. In fallback mode, the backup control unit takes over critical functions while non-critical functions are reduced or disabled, allowing the vehicle to continue safe operation with reduced productivity until the failure is resolved.
Data Source
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AI summary
The technology relates to partially redundant equipment architectures for vehicles able to operate in an autonomous driving mode. Aspects of the technology employ fallback configurations, such as two or more fallback sensor configurations that provide some minimum amount of field of view (FOV) around the vehicle (Figs. 11B, 11C and 11D). For instance, different sensor arrangements are logically associated with different operating domains of the vehicle (Fig. 12). Fallback configurations for computing resources (1202a, 1202b) and/or power resources (1302a, 1302b) are also provided. Each fallback configuration may have different reasons for being triggered (1408), and may result in different types of fallback modes of operation (1410, 1412). Triggering conditions may relate, e.g., to a type of failure, fault or other reduction in component capability, the current driving mode, environmental conditions in the vicinity of vehicle or along a planned route, or other factors. Fallback modes may involve altering a previously planned trajectory, altering vehicle speed, and/or altering a destination of the vehicle.