Autonomous Vehicle Relocation for Hazard-Triggered Safe Departure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing residential safety systems fail to autonomously relocate vehicles parked in hazardous conditions such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis, exposing them to damage and posing risks to the vehicle and surrounding structures.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating onboard and external sensors with a vehicle's computer system to detect hazards and autonomously relocate the vehicle to a safer location, ensuring safe departure by opening obstructions and disconnecting charging cables, with user and responder override options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a system integrates hazard detection with autonomous vehicle movement, then vehicle protection is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hazard detection systems (smoke detectors, water leak sensors, earthquake alarms) with autonomous vehicle movement capabilities into an integrated system. The vehicle computer system receives hazard information from external sensors and autonomously determines when and where to relocate the vehicle, merging previously separate safety and mobility functions into a unified autonomous response system.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle computer system performs multiple functions: it processes hazard detection data from various sensor types (smoke, water, seismic), determines relocation necessity, selects destination locations, and executes autonomous movement. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate specialized systems into a single versatile control unit.
2Reliability
If the vehicle autonomously relocates to a safer location, then damage from hazards is mitigated, but the time required for relocation increases response time
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors hazard conditions and prepares for relocation in advance. When hazards are detected, the vehicle computer system immediately determines the need for relocation and autonomously executes the move without requiring manual intervention or delayed decision-making, reducing overall response time despite the physical relocation time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous relocation process bypasses traditional manual steps (assessment, decision-making, manual operation) and directly executes vehicle movement once hazard thresholds are met. The system rushes through the relocation process by utilizing the vehicle's existing autonomous driving capabilities to quickly transport the vehicle to safety without unnecessary delays.
3Reliability
If the system ensures safe departure by opening obstructions and disconnecting charging cables, then relocation safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Before the vehicle begins its relocation movement, the system performs preliminary safety actions: it opens obstructions such as garage doors to clear the path, and disconnects charging cables to prevent electrical hazards during movement. These preparatory steps ensure safe departure and are executed automatically as part of the relocation sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle computer system autonomously manages the entire relocation process without external assistance. It self-determines when relocation is necessary, self-selects destination locations, self-executes path clearance by opening obstructions, and self-manages disconnection from charging infrastructure, making the system self-sufficient in handling its own safety and relocation needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for autonomously relocating a vehicle in response to a detected hazard. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors configured to detect hazardous conditions, and is analyzed to determine whether a hazardous condition exists. A determination is made as to whether any obstructions are present in a predetermined movement path of the vehicle to a predetermined safe location. If a hazardous condition exists and no obstructions are present in the predetermined movement path of the vehicle, a relocation command is issued to the vehicle to move to the predetermined safe location.