Remote Vehicle Assistance Using Safe-Stop Route Segments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in safely traversing routes when network connectivity with remote operators is unreliable, leading to potential unsafe operations due to high latency or message loss.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where the vehicle performs a safe stop before requesting remote assistance, ensuring each operation transitions from one safe state to the next, and using atomic and time-insensitive remote vehicle assistance commands to ensure safe route traversal even with network disconnections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle requests remote assistance continuously, then the operator can provide timely guidance, but network latency and message loss may cause unsafe operations
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs a safe stop before requesting remote assistance, ensuring it is in a safe state before needing operator input. This preliminary action guarantees that even if messages are lost or delayed, the vehicle will not be in an unsafe condition when the operator's commands arrive
Solution Approach 2:
The route is divided into segments with designated safe stop locations. The vehicle traverses segments one at a time and stops at safe locations between them, allowing the operator to provide guidance for each segment independently. This segmentation ensures that communication failures do not compound across multiple route sections
2Reliability
If the vehicle waits for operator confirmation before each action, then safety is improved, but traversal time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs safe stops at predetermined locations between route segments before needing operator input. This allows the vehicle to autonomously traverse segments and only pause for operator confirmation at safe intermediate points, rather than requiring confirmation for every action
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle autonomously executes route traversal without operator confirmation for each individual action, using operator input only at critical decision points between segments. This partial automation approach maintains safety at key moments while minimizing overall traversal time
3Reliability
If the vehicle performs multiple safe stops along the route, then safety is ensured, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The route is divided into manageable segments with safe stop locations positioned at optimal intervals. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain higher speeds between stops while ensuring safety at critical transition points, balancing productivity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle performs safe stops only at necessary intermediate points between route segments rather than continuously. This selective approach to safe stops maintains safety where needed while minimizing interruptions to overall route traversal speed
4Productivity
If the vehicle operates without safe stop guarantees, then productivity increases, but safety cannot be ensured during remote assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The system guarantees that the vehicle will be in a safe state (at a safe stop location) before remote assistance is requested and before each new segment is begun. This preliminary safety guarantee eliminates the harmful factor of unsafe operation while maintaining productivity through efficient segment-based traversal
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods for route traversal using remote vehicle assistance, which can include a method. The method includes: identifying a condition on a route traveled by a vehicle that inhibits movement of the vehicle along the route; sending an assistance request to a remote operator; receiving an updated trajectory for the vehicle to travel along the route, the updated trajectory including one or more segments; evaluating whether the vehicle can be controlled to safely traverse a first segment with a safe stop upon completion of traversal of the first segment; determining that the vehicle can be controlled to safely traverse the first segment with a safe stop; and upon determining that the vehicle can be controlled to traverse the first segment with a safe stop upon completion of the traversal of the first segment, controlling the vehicle to traverse the first segment. Systems and computer program products are also provided.