Roadside-Guided Autonomous Driving for Lower Onboard Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles require expensive and complicated on-board systems, hindering widespread commercial implementation.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive system with a hierarchical structure of traffic control centers and units, including Road Side Units, that send detailed and time-sensitive control instructions to individual vehicles, optimizing traffic operations and vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles use expensive and complicated on-board systems, then vehicle control and navigation capabilities are improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Road Side Units (RSUs) as intermediary devices that provide autonomous vehicles with navigation, control, and sensing capabilities. Instead of equipping each vehicle with complex on-board systems, the RSUs act as external brains that communicate with vehicles via V2X communication, providing guidance commands and environmental perception data to simplify vehicle onboard equipment while maintaining full autonomous control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the control architecture from a vehicle-centric dimension to a road-network dimension by deploying hierarchical traffic control centers (TCCs) and road side units along the roadway. This dimensional shift allows the system to provide autonomous vehicle control through infrastructure-based solutions rather than requiring complex onboard systems in each vehicle
2Measurement precision
If autonomous vehicles use expensive and complicated on-board systems, then navigation and sensing accuracy are improved, but deployment cost and scalability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
RSUs serve as intermediary sensing stations that collect environmental data (road conditions, weather, traffic flow, obstacles) and process this information centrally. Vehicles receive processed sensing results and navigation commands from RSUs, eliminating the need for each vehicle to carry expensive sensor suites while maintaining high measurement precision through centralized environmental perception
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of each vehicle having its own expensive sensing and control systems, the patent creates a virtual copy of the control brain in the RSU infrastructure. The RSUs replicate the intelligent decision-making capability across multiple locations along the roadway, providing each vehicle with access to equivalent navigation and control intelligence through communication links rather than physical hardware
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed and time-sensitive control instructions are sent to individual vehicles, then vehicle operation precision is improved, but communication data requirements and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical traffic control center pre-calculates optimal routes, speed profiles, and navigation commands based on destination and real-time traffic conditions. This preliminary processing allows vehicles to receive compact, pre-packaged control instructions rather than raw sensor data, reducing communication data volume while maintaining precise vehicle control for lane changing, speed adjustment, and route following
Solution Approach 2:
The control instruction system is segmented into hierarchical levels: strategic route planning at the TCC level and tactical execution commands at the RSU level. This segmentation allows high-level navigation decisions to be made with minimal data exchange, while local RSUs provide time-sensitive control adjustments only when needed, reducing overall communication load while maintaining precise vehicle control
Data Source
AI summary
This technology provides an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Intelligent Driving System (IDS) that includes a sensing module for gathering driving environment data and an onboard unit (OBU) for vehicle control. The OBU features a vehicle control module and communication modules for guidance-level interaction with Traffic Control Centers (TCC/TCU) and Roadside Units (RSUs). The system receives targeted guidance instructions and information, such as vehicle maneuvering, safety maintenance, traffic control, and special conditions, to enhance driving tasks. The IDS collaborates with TCC/TCU and RSUs, providing redundancy and a fail-safe mechanism for increased safety and reliability. The system is designed with wireless communication capabilities for efficient information exchange and is applicable to connected and automated vehicles (CAVs).