Foldable Pedal System for Autonomous Vehicle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, exposed accelerator and brake pedals can obstruct driver comfort during autonomous driving and may lead to erroneous operation, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A foldable pedal system that includes organ-type, pendant-type, and pressure-operation-type pedals, which can be selectively combined and mounted below the driver's seat, allowing for manual operation in manual driving mode while concealing pedals in autonomous mode to prevent accidental activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pedals are exposed in the space below the driver's seat, then the driver can operate the pedals in manual driving mode, but the pedals become an obstacle to driver comfort and may cause erroneous operation in autonomous driving mode
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal device employs a movable cover that can dynamically change its state between open and closed positions. The cover is positioned to cover the pedal when the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, preventing erroneous operation. When manual driving mode is selected, the cover opens to allow pedal operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's behavior contingent on the driving mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary element between the driver and the pedal. It physically blocks access to the pedal when autonomous driving mode is active, serving as a protective barrier. When manual mode is engaged, the intermediary (cover) is moved out of the way, allowing direct interaction between the driver and pedal. This intermediary mechanism effectively mediates the safety and operability requirements.
2Reliability
If pedals are concealed to prevent erroneous operation in autonomous mode, then safety is improved, but the driver cannot operate the pedals when needed in manual mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic state changes of the cover based on driving mode. The cover transitions from a closed position (concealing the pedal for safety) to an open position (exposing the pedal for operation). This dynamic behavior allows the system to satisfy both safety requirements during autonomous mode and operability requirements during manual mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedal device automatically adjusts its own state (cover position) based on the detected driving mode without requiring separate control actions. When the vehicle switches between autonomous and manual modes, the cover automatically moves to the appropriate position, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for manual intervention to expose or conceal the pedal.
3Reliability
If the pedal structure is made foldable with a movable cover, then driver comfort and safety are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal device is segmented into distinct functional components: the pedal body, the cover, and the actuating mechanism. The cover is separated from the pedal, allowing independent movement and positioning. This segmentation enables the cover to be moved independently to expose or conceal the pedal, achieving the safety function while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle includes a foldable accelerator pedal device and a foldable brake pedal device. The foldable accelerator pedal device is an organ-type foldable accelerator pedal device, a pendant-type foldable accelerator pedal device, or a pressure-operation-type accelerator pedal device. The foldable brake pedal device is an organ-type foldable brake pedal device, a pendant-type foldable brake pedal device, and a pressure-operation-type brake pedal device. The foldable accelerator pedal device and the foldable brake pedal device are mounted in a space below the driver's seat. The foldable accelerator pedal device, the foldable brake pedal device, and the space below the driver's seat are configured to accommodate any one of the foldable accelerator pedal devices in combination with any one of the foldable brake pedal devices.