Redundant Vehicle Sensor Layout for Fail-Safe Environmental Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving technologies have limited vehicle perception and environmental adaptability, leading to unreliable sensing of environmental information, which compromises driving safety and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle is equipped with redundant sensor subsystems and a computing system that sends control instructions based on the state of these sensors to ensure reliable sensing of environmental information, even when one subsystem fails, by rationally arranging sensors to minimize blind areas and reduce the number of sensors needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single sensor subsystem is used to acquire environmental information, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of sensing is compromised when the sensor fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring a second sensor subsystem as a backup before the first sensor subsystem fails. The control system is designed to automatically switch to the second sensor subsystem when failure is detected, preventing sensing gaps without requiring complex real-time decision-making during critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by establishing a redundant sensor subsystem that cushions against the potential failure of the primary sensor. This backup system ensures continuous environmental information acquisition even when the first sensor subsystem fails, protecting the overall system reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple sensor subsystems are deployed to ensure reliable sensing, then the reliability of sensing is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the sensor subsystem configuration adaptive rather than static. The control system dynamically switches between the first and second sensor subsystems based on operational needs and failure states. The second sensor subsystem remains in a low-power standby mode and is activated only when the first sensor subsystem fails, optimizing power consumption while maintaining reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If sensors are arranged to minimize blind areas, then the coverage of environmental information is improved, but the quantity of sensors and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a second sensor subsystem that replicates the sensing capabilities of the first sensor subsystem. Rather than adding complementary sensors to fill blind spots, the system copies the entire sensor configuration, allowing the second subsystem to serve as a complete backup that covers all areas the first subsystem covers.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having sensor redundancy. The vehicle includes a sensor system including a first sensor subsystem configured for acquiring environmental information around the vehicle; a second sensor subsystem configured for acquiring environmental information around the vehicle; a computing system configured for sending a control instruction generated based on one of the first sensor subsystem and the second sensor subsystem to a control system according to a state of at least one of the computing system and the sensor system; a control system configured for changing at least one of a direction of travel and a speed of the vehicle based on the control instruction received from the computing system.