Joystick Switch Validation for Safe Unmanned Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote vehicle controllers lack safety measures to prevent human and hardware signal errors, particularly when used with non-industrial-grade products, which can lead to unsafe operation of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a controller with specific switch activation protocols, where a first vehicle control command is only executed if all second switches are activated simultaneously, and if not, an automatic brake command is applied, with deceleration adjustments to ensure safe vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple controller is used for remote vehicle control, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to human and hardware signal errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of control signals by checking switch activation patterns before executing vehicle control commands. The controller verifies that specific switches are activated in predetermined combinations, preventing execution of commands that may result from erroneous signals while maintaining simple controller operation.
2Reliability
If switch activation validation is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring the activation state of switches and comparing it against predetermined valid patterns. The controller receives feedback from the switch array, validates the pattern, and only executes commands when the pattern matches expected configurations, thereby improving reliability through a relatively simple validation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system that improves operation safety of a remote vehicle controller is disclosed. The operations comprise: receiving, at an autonomous vehicle, controller outputs from a controller; determining that a first switch is activated at the controller based on the controller outputs, wherein the first switch being activated indicates a first vehicle control command; determining whether all of one or more second switches are activated at the controller based on the controller outputs; in response to determining that all of the one or more second switches are activated, executing the first vehicle control command; and in response to determining that not all of the one or more second switches are activated, ignoring the first vehicle control command.