Autonomous Vehicle Lane Change Consent via Distinct Input Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic lane changes in autonomous vehicles often require driver consent, but existing systems can misinterpret unintentional driver inputs, and large-sized vehicles face challenges due to their size and weight, necessitating safer maneuver execution times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing distinct actuation patterns for driver consent, such as double-toggling or double-tapping on input devices within a predefined time period, to avoid unintended consent and ensure safe lane changes, with a processor determining safety based on sensor data before initiating the maneuver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard single actuation of the input device is used to indicate lane change consent, then the operation is simple and quick, but the system may misinterpret unintentional driver inputs as consent
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires periodic or repeated actuation of the input device (e.g., double-tap, double-toggle) within a predefined time period to indicate lane change consent. This periodic action pattern distinguishes intentional consent from accidental single inputs, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through familiar interaction patterns.
2Reliability
If distinct actuation patterns are required for lane change consent, then the accuracy of consent detection is improved, but the complexity of the input device operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of actuation frequency or repetition count (requiring multiple actuations within a time window) rather than changing the fundamental nature of the input device. This allows the system to improve consent detection accuracy while maintaining compatibility with existing input devices and familiar user interaction patterns, thus minimizing operational complexity.
3Productivity
If larger autonomous vehicles perform lane change maneuvers, then they achieve necessary lane transitions, but they require more time and distance to safely execute the maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary safety determination and driver consent verification before initiating the lane change maneuver. By confirming all safety conditions are met and obtaining explicit driver consent in advance, the system ensures that when the maneuver is executed, it can proceed without delays or interruptions, thereby optimizing the actual execution time despite the vehicle's size.
Data Source
AI summary
In one or more embodiments, a method comprises receiving, at a processor, an input signal from an input device in response to a first actuation of the input device by a driver of an autonomous vehicle. The input device is a device disposed with the autonomous vehicle and has a second actuation of the input device associated with a standard operation of the input device. The second actuation has an actuation pattern different from an actuation pattern of the first actuation. In response to the input signal, a determination is made by the processor to determine whether the autonomous vehicle can perform a maneuver safely. In response to determining that the autonomous vehicle can perform the maneuver safely, a signal is sent by the processor to cause the autonomous vehicle to perform the maneuver.