Remote Vehicle Guidance Using Waypoints for Complex Road Scenarios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating complex situations, such as construction zones, where sensor data complexity exceeds the processing capability of onboard controllers, requiring additional guidance to safely maneuver.
Innovation Solution
A remote guidance system for autonomous vehicles that communicates with a server to receive instructions defined by waypoints, allowing the vehicle to perform driving maneuvers and adapt to changing environments by requesting and implementing alternative trajectories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the autonomous vehicle uses onboard controller to process sensor data, then the vehicle can operate autonomously with minimal driver inputs, but the controller cannot handle complex situations requiring sophisticated verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the vehicle's onboard controller and complex verification requirements. When the controller encounters sensor data representing situations it cannot handle (e.g., construction zones requiring sophisticated verification), it communicates with the remote server via transceivers. The server provides additional processing power and verification capabilities, enabling the autonomous vehicle to handle complex situations beyond its onboard controller's capabilities while maintaining autonomous operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle requests remote guidance for complex situations, then the vehicle can obtain sophisticated verification and guidance, but the system complexity increases with additional communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent equips the autonomous vehicle with transceivers and communication modules in advance, establishing the necessary communication infrastructure before complex situations arise. The vehicle's controller is pre-programmed to recognize when sensor data indicates situations requiring remote verification and to automatically initiate communication with the remote server. This preliminary preparation allows the vehicle to seamlessly access sophisticated verification capabilities without adding operational complexity during critical moments.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of an environment outside the vehicle; one or more transceivers configured to communicate with a server; and one or more controllers configured to, responsive to the sensor data indicative of a predefined trigger event, send a request for remote guidance to the server via the transceiver, receive an instruction including a plurality of waypoints from the server, determine a first section of a trajectory along a route defined by the waypoints, and perform a driving maneuver to implement the trajectory.