Remote Assistance Grouping for Congested Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of autonomous vehicles (AVs) increases, congestion and inefficiencies arise when multiple AVs become stuck in a congested area, requiring remote assistance, which can lead to costly and inefficient use of remote assistance operators.
Innovation Solution
A system and technique that enable a remote assistance operator to monitor and control multiple AVs experiencing a stuck state, allowing for coordinated assistance and reducing the need for multiple operators by grouping AVs based on common factors such as location or needed maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple remote assistance operators are assigned to assist multiple autonomous vehicles, then the assistance quality to each vehicle is improved, but the operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple autonomous vehicles into a single group that is managed by one remote assistance operator. The system dynamically groups vehicles based on their locations, situations, and assistance needs, allowing a single operator to simultaneously control and assist multiple vehicles through a unified interface, thereby reducing the total number of operators required while maintaining assistance quality
Solution Approach 2:
The remote assistance operator is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - monitoring, controlling, and providing assistance to multiple different autonomous vehicles at the same time. The system interface allows the operator to switch between vehicles and perform diverse assistance tasks across different vehicle contexts, making the operator role universal rather than specialized for a single vehicle
2Speed
If multiple remote assistance operators are deployed to handle multiple stuck autonomous vehicles, then the response speed to each vehicle is improved, but the operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the monitoring and control of multiple autonomous vehicles into a single operator's workflow. By grouping vehicles that are simultaneously experiencing issues, the system enables one operator to provide rapid assistance to multiple vehicles in sequence, maintaining high response speed while reducing operator headcount
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle grouping is dynamic rather than static - the system continuously monitors vehicle states and automatically adjusts which vehicles are grouped together based on real-time conditions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows operators to efficiently respond to changing situations across multiple vehicles without requiring dedicated operators for each vehicle
3Quantity of substance
If a single remote assistance operator manages multiple autonomous vehicles, then the operational cost is reduced, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the fleet of autonomous vehicles into distinct groups based on common characteristics such as location, situation type, and assistance requirements. Each group is managed as a separate unit by a single operator, breaking down the complex task of managing all vehicles into smaller, more manageable segments that reduce cognitive and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated grouping intermediary that mediates between the vehicles and the operators. This intermediary automatically performs the complex task of analyzing vehicle data, determining groupings, and assigning vehicles to operators, thereby shielding operators from the complexity of system coordination while enabling efficient multi-vehicle management
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to providing remote assistance to multiple autonomous vehicles and, more specifically, providing multiple requests for remote assistance to a remote assistance operator to provide sequential assistance. A method includes receiving, from a first autonomous vehicle, a first request for remote assistance; receiving, from a second autonomous vehicle, a second request for remote assistance; identifying a first location of the first autonomous vehicle and a second location of the second autonomous vehicle on a map; determining, based on the map, whether there is a trigger associated with the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle; and communicating both the first request for remote assistance and the second request for remote assistance to a remote assistance operator to provide sequential assistance. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.