Roadside Control Infrastructure for Lower-Cost Automated Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for controlling connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are complex and expensive, hindering widespread implementation, as they require sophisticated on-board systems for tasks like vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance.
Innovation Solution
The Intelligent Road Infrastructure System (IRIS) provides customized, real-time control instructions to CAVs through a network of roadside units, traffic control units, traffic control centers, vehicle onboard units, and cloud computing services, managing sensing, transportation behavior prediction, planning, and vehicle control across freeways and urban arterials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If existing autonomous vehicle systems are implemented, then vehicle control and navigation capabilities are achieved, but system complexity and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces roadside units (RSUs) as intermediary devices that perform sensing, detection, and control computations externally. These RSUs act as mediators between the central control system and vehicles, transferring control functions from expensive on-board vehicle systems to infrastructure-based systems, thereby reducing vehicle system complexity while maintaining automation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts control functions (sensing, detection, decision-making) from the vehicle's on-board systems and relocates them to roadside units and central control systems. This extraction removes complex computational requirements from vehicles, allowing simpler onboard equipment while achieving the same level of autonomous control through infrastructure support
2Extent of automation
If existing autonomous vehicle systems are implemented, then vehicle control and navigation capabilities are achieved, but implementation cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing roadside units as intermediary infrastructure components, the patent shifts the burden of expensive sensing and computation equipment from individual vehicles to shared infrastructure. This mediator approach allows vehicles to use simpler, less expensive onboard systems while still achieving advanced control capabilities through RSU support
Solution Approach 2:
The roadside units serve multiple functions including sensing, detection, communication, and control computation for multiple vehicles simultaneously. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate expensive systems in each vehicle, reducing overall system implementation costs through shared infrastructure resources
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed real-time control instructions are provided to vehicles, then vehicle operation precision and safety are improved, but communication data requirements and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex computation and data processing functions from vehicles and relocates them to roadside units and central control systems. This extraction allows detailed real-time control instructions to be generated and processed externally, reducing the communication data burden on vehicles while maintaining high operation precision through infrastructure-based computation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides systems and methods for an Intelligent Road Infrastructure System (IRIS), which facilitates vehicle operations and control for connected automated vehicle highway (CAVH) systems. IRIS systems and methods provide vehicles with individually customized information and real-time control instructions for vehicle to fulfill the driving tasks such as car following, lane changing, and route guidance. IRIS systems and methods also manage transportation operations and management services for both freeways and urban arterials. In some embodiments, the IRIS comprises or consists of one of more of the following physical subsystems: (1) Roadside unit (RSU) network, (2) Traffic Control Unit (TCU) and Traffic Control Center (TCC) network, (3) vehicle onboard unit (OBU), (4) traffic operations centers (TOCs), and (5) cloud information and computing services. The IRIS manages one or more of the following function categories: sensing, transportation behavior prediction and management, planning and decision making, and vehicle control. IRIS is supported by real-time wired and/or wireless communication, power supply networks, and cyber safety and security services.