Autonomous Vehicle Control with Roadside Task Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles require expensive and complicated on-board systems, hindering widespread commercial implementation.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive system for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) utilizing a hierarchical structure of traffic control centers and units, combined with Road Side Units and vehicle subsystems, to provide detailed and time-sensitive control instructions for vehicle following, lane changing, and route guidance, leveraging a network of RSUs for data sensing and signal delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles use traditional on-board systems for sensing and control, then vehicle autonomy can be achieved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Road Side Units (RSUs) as intermediary devices that perform sensing, detection, and control functions externally. These RSUs act as mediators between the central control system and vehicles, providing autonomous driving support without requiring complex on-board sensing systems in each vehicle. The RSUs handle tasks like obstacle detection, traffic condition monitoring, and control signal generation, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual vehicle systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the autonomy function from the vehicle dimension to the infrastructure dimension. Instead of embedding autonomous driving capabilities within each vehicle (on-board), the system relocates these functions to roadside infrastructure (RSUs) and central control centers. This dimensional shift allows vehicles to receive autonomy support through communication links rather than carrying complex sensing and processing hardware.
2Ease of operation
If comprehensive on-board systems are deployed in each autonomous vehicle, then full vehicle control capability is achieved, but implementation cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The Road Side Units (RSUs) are designed as universal infrastructure components that serve multiple vehicles simultaneously. A single RSU can provide sensing, detection, and control functions for numerous vehicles in its coverage area, eliminating the need for each vehicle to have duplicate autonomous driving hardware. This multi-functionality approach significantly reduces per-vehicle system cost while maintaining full control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the autonomous driving functions across multiple vehicles into a shared infrastructure system. Instead of each vehicle independently performing sensing and control, the system combines these functions at the RSU and central control center levels. Multiple vehicles share the same sensing resources and control processing, thereby reducing overall system cost and making widespread implementation economically viable.
3Productivity
If a centralized control system manages all autonomous vehicles, then traffic flow optimization is improved, but system response time to individual vehicles may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into hierarchical levels: central control centers for macroscopic traffic flow optimization and local Road Side Units for microscopic real-time vehicle control. This segmentation allows the central system to handle strategic decisions about traffic flow patterns while RSUs handle tactical real-time control signals. The segmentation enables parallel processing at different levels, optimizing both overall traffic efficiency and individual vehicle response times.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the control system are assigned different functional qualities based on their capabilities and proximity to vehicles. Central control centers perform comprehensive traffic flow optimization requiring aggregated data from multiple vehicles, while local RSUs provide immediate real-time control responses. This local quality differentiation ensures that time-critical control functions are handled by nearby RSUs with fast response, while less time-sensitive optimization is handled by the central system.
Data Source
AI summary
This technology provides an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Intelligent Control System (ICS) that integrates a sensing module for collecting driving environment data and an onboard unit (OBU) for vehicle control. The OBU includes a vehicle control module and communication modules for interacting with Traffic Control Centers (TCC/TCU) and Roadside Units (RSUs). These modules exchange information at the control level, such as vehicle positioning, speed, and environmental conditions, enabling the AV to operate safely and efficiently. The system also features redundancy through dual-security mechanisms, enhancing safety and reliability. The AV ICS is designed to distribute driving tasks and functions, utilizing both TCC/TCU and RSU data for vehicle control and monitoring, with wireless communication capabilities for seamless information exchange.