Remote Control Center for Autonomous Transit Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous navigation and driving technologies face challenges in public transit settings due to sensor malfunctions, inability to handle unforeseen situations, and lack of passenger assistance in autonomous vehicles, leading to safety concerns and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A cost-efficient system allowing remote control of autonomous transit vehicles through advanced analytics software and simulator toolsets, enabling a small number of operators to manage multiple vehicles, with sensory inputs including cameras, microphones, and buttons for passenger assistance, and using fuzzy logic and machine learning to analyze data and intervene in emergency situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous vehicles operate without drivers, then operational efficiency and cost are improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate due to sensor malfunctions and inability to handle unforeseen situations
Solution Approach 1:
A remote control center serves as an intermediary between autonomous vehicles and human operators. The control center receives sensory input data from vehicles, analyzes situations using advanced analytics software, and provides remote control commands when autonomous systems encounter unforeseen situations or sensor malfunctions, thereby maintaining safety while preserving autonomous operation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensory input from autonomous vehicles is transmitted to the control center, which monitors system performance and reliability metrics. When threshold risk levels are detected or unforeseen situations occur, the feedback mechanism triggers remote intervention, allowing the system to adapt and maintain safety while operating autonomously
2Productivity
If a full driver is removed from autonomous vehicles, then cost and efficiency are improved, but passenger assistance and security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control center acts as a mediator providing passenger assistance services. Passengers can communicate with operators at the control center who can view vehicle surroundings through sensory inputs and provide guidance, assistance, or emergency intervention, maintaining ease of operation without requiring a physical driver in the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical presence of a driver with a remote electronic communication system. Operators at the control center use audio communication devices and visual feeds from vehicle sensors to assist passengers, substituting the mechanical driver role with an electronic intermediary that maintains passenger assistance capabilities while improving efficiency
3Reliability
If remote control centers monitor all vehicles continuously, then safety is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously monitoring all vehicles with full remote control capabilities, the system implements partial monitoring where the control center receives and analyzes sensory input data selectively. Remote control is activated only when threshold risk levels are exceeded or unforeseen situations are detected, reducing system complexity while maintaining safety through targeted intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of sensory input data using advanced analytics software and machine learning algorithms before triggering remote control intervention. This preliminary action filters out routine situations and only activates the complex remote control system when genuinely unusual or risky situations are detected, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for assisting autonomous vehicles are provided. The methods and systems can help increase safety and consumer satisfaction with autonomous vehicles and help bridge the gap towards completely autonomy. A method for assisting autonomous vehicles can include providing an autonomous vehicle having sensory inputs and providing a remote control center having two-way communication with the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can send its sensory input information to the control center and the control center can send control information to the autonomous vehicle.