Occupant-Aware Braking System for Dynamic Maneuvering Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Road-going vehicles are limited in acceleration, turning, and braking by the traction between their tires and the road surface, leading to inefficient energy consumption, high component wear, and passenger discomfort, with no margin for unexpected road conditions, and autonomous vehicles face challenges in maneuvering based on cargo type and passenger safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that determines whether an autonomous vehicle is occupied and adjusts its maneuvering limits accordingly, using exterior and interior sensors to gather data on the vehicle's environment and cargo, and communicating with a network to set appropriate acceleration and braking limits, enabling safe and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vehicle acceleration is increased to improve productivity and reduce travel time, then energy consumption increases and passenger comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the acceleration limit adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the maximum acceleration threshold based on real-time detection of vehicle occupancy status. When no occupants are detected, the system allows higher acceleration levels to maximize productivity and minimize travel time. When occupants are present, the system reduces acceleration to passenger comfort levels. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing acceleration based on operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of acceleration limit based on occupancy detection. By using sensors to detect whether the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied, the system switches between different acceleration parameters: a higher parameter (acceleration limit) when unoccupied for productivity optimization, and a lower parameter (acceleration limit) when occupied for comfort optimization. This parameter change strategy directly addresses the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption/comfort.
2Ease of operation
If vehicle acceleration is limited for passenger comfort, then productivity decreases and travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts acceleration limits based on real-time occupancy status. When the vehicle is unoccupied, the system automatically increases acceleration limits beyond comfort levels to maximize productivity and reduce travel time. When occupants are detected, the system transitions to comfort-oriented acceleration limits. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity mode when no passengers are present while maintaining comfort mode when passengers are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements parameter changes by switching between different acceleration threshold values based on occupancy detection. The parameter (acceleration limit) is changed from a comfort-oriented lower value to a productivity-oriented higher value when the vehicle status changes from occupied to unoccupied. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize for productivity when appropriate while maintaining comfort when required.
3Productivity
If acceleration limits are set high for unoccupied vehicles, then productivity improves but passenger safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback through occupancy detection sensors that continuously monitor whether the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied. This feedback information is used to automatically adjust the acceleration limit parameter. When sensors detect no occupants, the system feedback allows high acceleration for productivity. When occupants are detected, the feedback triggers a reduction in acceleration limits to safe levels. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by ensuring safety through automatic parameter adjustment based on real-time vehicle status.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting occupancy status and adjusting acceleration limits without requiring manual intervention. The occupancy sensors and control system work together to self-regulate the vehicle's acceleration behavior. When the vehicle is unoccupied, the system autonomously permits higher acceleration for productivity optimization. When occupants are present, the system autonomously restricts acceleration to safe levels. This self-service capability ensures both productivity and safety are maintained through automatic adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system includes variable maneuvering limits based at least in part on whether the vehicle is carrying cargo (i.e., passengers or other cargo). The system can include a cargo classification system comprising one or more internal sensors, an imager, and an image interpreter. The cargo classification system can determine if the vehicle is carrying cargo and classify the cargo (e.g., passengers or other cargo). Based at least in part on this classification, the vehicle control system can set various vehicle maneuvering limits. When the vehicle is empty, the vehicle control system can maneuver the vehicle at, or near, the actual maneuvering limits for the vehicle (e.g., maximum longitudinal acceleration, braking and lateral acceleration that can be generated by the vehicle). When the vehicle is carrying cargo, the vehicle control system can maneuver the vehicle at a lower threshold to prevent passenger discomfort and/or cargo damage or discomfort.