Sensor Data Substitution for Automated Vehicle Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated vehicle systems lack effective redundancy in sensor systems, leading to potential safety issues and inefficiencies in error detection and management, as they rely on single measuring principles and lack adaptive strategies for sensor failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method with at least two redundant sensors based on different measuring principles, allowing for the modification or deactivation of driving functions and route recalculations based on sensor operativeness, enabling continued safe operation and improved traffic flow by leveraging alternative sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple redundant sensors based on different measuring principles are implemented, then safety and error detection capability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple independent sensors (camera, radar, lidar, ultrasonic sensors) each based on different measuring principles. This segmentation allows the system to detect and compensate for failures of individual sensors while maintaining overall reliability, as each sensor type detects errors independently rather than relying on a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the composite principle by combining multiple sensor types (camera, radar, lidar, ultrasonic sensors) with different measuring principles into a unified sensor system. This composite approach ensures that if one sensor type fails, others can compensate, thereby improving reliability without requiring a single overly complex sensor.
2Reliability
If redundant sensors are used solely for safety redundancy, then measurement reliability is improved, but costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each sensor type is designed to perform its primary measurement function while also serving as a backup for other sensor types. For example, the camera primarily detects pedestrians but can also provide distance information as a backup for radar failures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated redundant sensors, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining measurement reliability.
3Reliability
If a sensor is deactivated due to failure, then system safety is maintained, but traffic flow and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the operability of each sensor and provides feedback to the control unit. When a sensor failure is detected, the control unit immediately activates alternative sensors and adjusts driving functions accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the vehicle to maintain safe operation without complete deactivation of driving functions, thereby preserving traffic flow and productivity while ensuring system safety.
4Duration of action of moving object
If sensor measurement data is substituted from alternative sensors, then continued operation is enabled, but measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
When substituting measurement data from alternative sensors, the system adjusts measurement parameters and evaluation criteria to account for the different measuring principles. For example, when substituting radar distance measurements with camera-based measurements, the system modifies the evaluation parameters to match the camera's measurement characteristics. This parameter adaptation maintains measurement precision while enabling continued operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a highly or fully automated vehicle equipped with a plurality of driving functions and at least two, at least partially redundant sensors recording measurement data. In this method, the sensors are checked for their operativeness. The measurement data of the at least two, at least partially redundant sensors are based on different measuring principles, and at least one driving function is modified and/or deactivated as a function of the operativeness of the sensors.