Automated Vehicle Safe Stop Zone Navigation and Occupancy Broadcast
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vehicles face challenges in identifying and navigating to safe stop zones during emergencies, and in communicating occupancy to other vehicles, especially when human operators are incapacitated or unable to take control.
Innovation Solution
A safe-stop-zone identification system for automated vehicles, comprising a digital map, a transceiver, and a controller, which navigates the vehicle into a safe stop zone and broadcasts its occupancy to other vehicles, using a digital map to indicate travel paths and safe stop zones, and a transceiver to communicate with other vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the automated vehicle pulls over to the side of the road during an emergency, then the vehicle can stop safely away from traffic, but it may block the travel lane and cause traffic congestion or danger to other vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by first detecting the emergency situation and identifying a suitable safe stop zone before the vehicle actually stops. The controller navigates the vehicle to the identified zone and only then allows stopping, ensuring the path is clear and the stop location is pre-validated as safe for other traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver broadcasts information to other vehicles about the automated vehicle's intention to stop and its current location. This feedback mechanism allows other drivers to be aware of the stopping vehicle in advance and adjust their driving accordingly, preventing traffic congestion and accidents caused by sudden stops.
2Reliability
If the transceiver broadcasts information to other vehicles about the safe stop zone occupancy, then other vehicles can avoid congestion and danger, but the system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver serves multiple functions: it broadcasts safe stop zone occupancy information to prevent congestion, communicates vehicle status to facilitate emergency responses, and enables coordination with other vehicles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated communication systems for each purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the broadcasting of occupancy information without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously determines when to broadcast based on the vehicle's location and status, and the transceiver automatically transmits the information, making the communication process self-managing and reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If the vehicle stops in an emergency situation, then the emergency can be addressed, but traffic flow is disrupted and other vehicles may be endangered
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies and navigates to a suitable safe stop zone before the emergency stop is executed. By pre-selecting an appropriate location that minimizes impact on traffic flow, the system ensures that the emergency response can proceed while maintaining traffic productivity as much as possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver provides real-time feedback to other vehicles about the emergency stop and the vehicle's location in the safe stop zone. This allows other drivers to adjust their behavior accordingly, maintaining traffic flow efficiency around the stopped vehicle rather than causing congestion or dangerous maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
A safe-stop-zone identification system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map, a transceiver, and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle, wherein the digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The transceiver is operable to broadcast information about the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the digital-map and the transceiver. The controller navigates the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs, and then operates the transceiver to broadcast that the safe-stop-zone is occupied by the host-vehicle.