Remote Vehicle Stop Using Independent Dual Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles lack a reliable and independent emergency stop system that can safely bring the vehicle to a halt, especially when the onboard control systems fail or exhibit errant behavior.
Innovation Solution
A remote stop system that employs both mechanical and electrical braking mechanisms, independent of the vehicle's control systems, which can be activated remotely to simultaneously apply braking forces and shut off the engine, ensuring redundancy and reliability in stopping the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single braking system is used in autonomous vehicles, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability and safety in emergency stop situations are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system is segmented into two independent subsystems: a mechanical remote stop system with a brake valve and a battery-powered electrical remote stop system with a brake actuator. This segmentation allows each subsystem to operate independently, ensuring that if one fails, the other can still provide emergency stopping capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the braking system are assigned different functional qualities: the mechanical system provides direct hydraulic brake application through a brake valve, while the electrical system provides electronic control through a brake actuator. This local differentiation of qualities ensures that each component contributes its unique strength to the overall emergency stop reliability without requiring the entire system to be overly complex.
2Reliability
If the remote stop system remains in the first state (transmitting control signal), then the vehicle operates normally, but the emergency stop capability is not activated
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with two pre-configured states: the first state where the control signal keeps both braking systems inactive during normal operation, and the second state where the control signal is removed to simultaneously activate both mechanical and electrical braking systems. This preliminary configuration of states ensures that emergency stop capability is always ready without requiring complex real-time decision-making, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If only one remote stop mechanism is used, then the device complexity is low, but the redundancy and safety against errant behavior are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing redundant braking mechanisms (both mechanical and electrical systems) that are prepared in advance to counteract any potential errant behavior or system failures. This dual-layer protection ensures that if one system fails or behaves errantly, the other system provides a safety cushion to still achieve emergency stopping, resolving the contradiction between protection against harmful factors and device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for remotely stopping a vehicle configured to operate autonomously or semi-autonomously. The method includes providing an electromechanical remote stop system, applying a control signal to the vehicle with the electromechanical remote stop system, and observing an errant behavior of the vehicle. The method includes actuating the electromechanical remote stop system after observing the errant behavior, ceasing applying the control signal based on actuating the electromechanical remote stop system, and applying a first braking force due to the ceasing applying the control signal. The method includes applying a second braking force due to the ceasing applying the control signal. Actuating the electromechanical remote stop system, and thus, applying the first braking force and the second braking force, occurs at a location exterior to the vehicle.