Autonomous Vehicle Overtake Decisions for Stopped Vehicle Behavior
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous vehicles lack the ability to determine whether a stopped vehicle will remain stationary for an extended period, leading to uncertainty in deciding whether to overtake or wait, which can result in unnecessary braking or traffic congestion.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor and memory that determines a predicted movement of a second vehicle based on conditions such as type, passenger activity, and time, allowing an autonomous vehicle to initiate an overtake action if the movement is expected to satisfy a defined overtake condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional autonomous vehicles stop when encountering a stopped vehicle, then safety is improved, but traffic flow and productivity deteriorate due to unnecessary braking and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the stopped vehicle's characteristics (type, duration, location) before making the overtake decision. By evaluating these factors in advance using sensors and databases, the system determines whether the vehicle is temporarily stopped (e.g., dropping off passengers) or permanently stopped (e.g., breakdown), enabling informed overtake decisions that maintain safety while improving traffic flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the overtake decision based on real-time conditions. Instead of a fixed stop-and-wait behavior, the autonomous vehicle continuously monitors the stopped vehicle's status and environmental factors (traffic conditions, road type, time of day) to adaptively determine whether to overtake or wait, optimizing both safety and traffic efficiency
2Reliability
If conventional autonomous vehicles wait for stopped vehicles, then safety is improved, but time efficiency deteriorates due to extended waiting periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system evaluates the stopped vehicle's characteristics in advance (vehicle type, stopping duration patterns, location context) to predict whether waiting is necessary. By performing this preliminary assessment, the system avoids unnecessary waiting for vehicles that are likely to move soon or should be overtaken, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining safety through informed decision-making
3Device complexity
If autonomous vehicles lack information about stopped vehicle duration, then device complexity is reduced, but decision accuracy deteriorates leading to uncertainty in overtake decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces intermediary components (sensors, communication modules, databases) that gather and process information about stopped vehicles from multiple sources. These intermediaries collect data on vehicle type, stopping duration, location, and environmental context, transforming raw data into actionable insights that improve overtake decision accuracy without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multi-functional sensors and processing units that serve multiple purposes: detecting stopped vehicles, analyzing their characteristics, predicting their behavior, and making overtake decisions. This universal approach improves decision accuracy by integrating various functions into existing system components rather than adding separate dedicated systems for each function
Data Source
AI summary
An overtake decision (e.g., for a vehicle) based on behavior of another vehicle (e.g., using a computerized tool) is enabled. For example, a method can comprise: based upon a condition applicable to a second vehicle, other than a first vehicle, determining, by a system comprising a processor, a predicted movement of the second vehicle, and based on the predicted movement being determined to satisfy a defined overtake condition, initiating, by the system, an overtake action, applicable to the first vehicle, to overtake the second vehicle.