Removable Manual Controls for Autonomous Vehicle Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing autonomous vehicles on public roadways poses safety challenges due to the absence of traditional steering wheels and control pedals, necessitating a method to safely and temporarily enable manual control for passengers.
Innovation Solution
A removable manual control system is provided, comprising a steering wheel, pedal assembly, and hand-held wand, which can be mounted in an autonomous vehicle to allow passengers to take control in emergency situations, communicating inputs to the vehicle's computer system via electronic connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional steering wheels and control pedals are permanently installed in autonomous vehicles, then manual control capability is improved, but device complexity and vehicle modification requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control system is divided into separate, modular components including a steering wheel assembly, pedal assembly, and hand-held wand that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the vehicle to maintain autonomous operation without permanent modifications while enabling manual control when needed for testing purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic removable configuration. The steering wheel and pedals can be mounted or dismounted based on testing requirements, allowing the vehicle to adapt between autonomous-only mode and manual control capability as needed.
2Reliability
If manual control inputs are permanently integrated into autonomous vehicles, then passenger safety during testing is improved, but ease of manufacture and vehicle deployment worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The manual control inputs are extracted as a separate removable system rather than being permanently integrated into the vehicle manufacturing process. This allows standard autonomous vehicles to be produced without manual controls, while testing vehicles can be quickly equipped with the removable control system to ensure passenger safety during testing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable manual control system serves multiple functions: it provides manual steering control, acceleration/braking control, and can be configured for different testing scenarios. This universal control system can be applied across multiple vehicle units, improving safety without requiring custom manufacturing for each testing vehicle.
3Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles operate without traditional steering wheels, then automation level is improved, but adaptability to different testing scenarios worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's control configuration dynamically adapts between autonomous-only operation and manual control modes. The removable steering wheel and pedal assemblies allow the same vehicle to flexibly transition between different operational modes depending on the testing scenario, maintaining high automation levels during normal operation while enabling manual control when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle platform achieves universality by supporting both fully autonomous operation and manual control through the optional removable control system. This allows the same vehicle design to be used across multiple testing scenarios without requiring different vehicle configurations, improving both automation capability and testing versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle for maneuvering a passenger to a destination autonomously. The vehicle includes a computing system and a set of user input buttons for communicating requests to stop the vehicle and to initiate a trip to the destination with the computing system The vehicle has no steering wheel and no user inputs for the steering, acceleration, and deceleration of the vehicle other than the set of user input buttons. In order to safely test the vehicle, a removable manual control system may be used. The system may include a housing having an electronic connection to a computing system of the vehicle. The housing includes a steering input configured to allow a passenger to control the direction of the vehicle. The system also includes one or more computing devices configured to receive input from the steering input and send instructions the computing system.