Remote Vehicle Control System Safety and Ergonomics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current remote control systems for vehicles face safety concerns such as poor operator ergonomics, plausibility checks for operating steps, and potential misuse, which hinder their practical and series use due to unresolved safety aspects and regulatory approval issues.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a vehicle and remote control with transceivers that enable signal exchange for initiating driving maneuvers, featuring position-based enabling/disabling of remote control, seat occupancy checks, and use of sensors like acceleration and position sensors for intuitive control, along with image data and collision monitoring to enhance safety and ergonomics, and integration with infrastructure information for precise navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote control of vehicle is enabled for convenient parking and maneuvering, then ease of operation is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential misuse and lack of operator presence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary safety checks before enabling remote control operation. It verifies that the vehicle is in a safe location (not on public roads), that no occupants are present, and that the environment is suitable for remote operation. These preliminary actions prevent unsafe remote control scenarios from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vehicle position, occupancy status, and environmental conditions during remote control operation. It provides feedback to the remote control device about the current safety status and can terminate remote control if unsafe conditions develop, ensuring ongoing safety throughout the operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If comprehensive safety checks and position verification are implemented, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional components that serve multiple purposes. For example, the position sensors not only determine location for remote control enabling but also support navigation and collision avoidance. The occupancy sensors serve both safety verification and operational control functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple safety verification functions into a unified control system. Position verification, occupancy detection, and environmental assessment are integrated into a single remote control enablement decision process, managed by a central control unit that coordinates all safety checks and operational control in one system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If seat occupancy checks are performed to ensure no occupants are present, then safety is improved, but ease of operation is reduced due to additional操作步骤

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs occupancy detection and verification without requiring manual intervention from the user. The occupancy sensors continuously monitor the vehicle interior, and the control system automatically determines whether remote control can be enabled based on occupancy status, eliminating the need for users to manually check or report occupancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2617627B1Remote control for parking and slow manoeuvers of motor vehicles
Publication Date: 2016.10.19 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2617627B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2617627B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2617627B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A system (1) and a method for remotely controlling a vehicle (2), in particular a motor vehicle, are provided, in which safety measures and aspects of user ergonomics are defined, such as could be of central importance for the type approval of a generic system (1). While largely the same applies to the method according to the invention, it is specified by way of example for the system (1) according to the invention that it comprises a vehicle (2) and a remote control device (3), wherein the vehicle (2) comprises a transceiver (11) which is configured to exchange signals with the remote control device (3), and the system is configured to implement various type approval-relevant aspects of the user safety of a generic system, as described in detail in the application.