Retrofit Vehicle Automation System with Dual Master Cylinder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles are expensive and purpose-built, limiting their availability and safety benefits to only a few, while most vehicles lack autonomous driving capabilities, which are essential for improving national driving safety.

Innovation Solution

A system for retrofitting existing vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities, including a throttle interface, brake interface, steering interface, sensor suite, central computer, and user interface, which interfaces with manual controls and computer systems to enable autonomous or semi-autonomous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If autonomous driving systems are built into vehicles from scratch, then automation capability is achieved, but cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous driving capabilityVSAvoidvehicle system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous driving system is divided into separate functional modules including sensor suite (cameras, LIDAR, radar), central computer with processing units, control interfaces (throttle, brake, steering), and communication systems. Each module operates independently but integrates through standardized interfaces, allowing the system to be added to existing vehicles without redesigning the entire vehicle architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The central computer serves multiple functions by integrating data processing from various sensors, making navigation decisions, controlling multiple vehicle systems (throttle, brake, steering), and communicating with external systems. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If purpose-built autonomous vehicles are manufactured, then automation performance is optimized, but affordability and accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous driving performanceVSAvoidvehicle production cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pre-trained machine learning models and pre-calibrated sensor configurations that can be installed in existing vehicles without requiring extensive on-site programming or calibration. The central computer comes pre-loaded with autonomous driving algorithms and vehicle control parameters, enabling rapid deployment across multiple vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous driving software and control algorithms can be replicated and installed across multiple vehicles through digital distribution rather than physical customization. The same central computer hardware and software package can be deployed in different vehicle models and manufacturers, reducing development costs per vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing vehicles are retrofitted with autonomous systems, then accessibility improves, but integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle compatibilityVSAvoidretrofit integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system includes intermediary adaptation layers that translate between the standardized autonomous driving interface and the specific control protocols of different vehicle manufacturers. These intermediaries handle throttle control, brake actuation, and steering commands in ways compatible with various existing vehicle architectures without requiring vehicle-specific customization of the core autonomous system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If comprehensive sensor suites are installed, then detection accuracy improves, but system cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental perception accuracyVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensing functions are combined into integrated sensor units. For example, the sensor suite includes cameras, LIDAR, and radar that share common mounting structures, power supplies, and data processing pipelines. This consolidation reduces the total weight compared to separate independent sensor systems while maintaining comprehensive environmental perception capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10167015B2System for retrofitting vehicle automation

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An autonomous vehicle retrofit system includes: a central computer; and a braking interface to decelerate a wheel of a vehicle via actuation of a brake caliper, the braking interface further including a brake pedal; a first master cylinder assembly, mechanically coupled to the brake pedal such that actuation of the brake pedal causes actuation of the first master cylinder assembly; a second master cylinder assembly, coupled to the central computer such that the central computer controls actuation of the second master cylinder assembly; and an actuator selector, hydraulically coupled to the brake caliper, that selectively actuates the brake caliper in response to actuation of at least one of the first master cylinder assembly and the second master cylinder assembly.