Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Failure Response and Autonomy Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportation systems lack effective methods to manage and respond to sensor malfunctions in real-time, which can compromise the safety and autonomy of vehicles, leading to potential accidents or reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a processor and memory to determine sensor malfunctions, assess their severity, and adjust the vehicle's autonomous level and operation accordingly, utilizing data from other sensors or devices to compensate for faulty sensors and maintain safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the autonomous level is maintained at a high level despite sensor malfunctions, then operational efficiency is preserved, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the autonomous level based on sensor malfunction severity. When sensors are functioning properly, the vehicle operates at a higher autonomous level for efficiency. When malfunctions are detected, the system transitions to lower autonomous levels or manual operation modes, adapting the degree of automation to current system reliability conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by modifying the autonomous level setting in response to sensor status. This involves adjusting control parameters such as the degree of autonomous intervention, speed limits, or operational constraints based on the detected sensor malfunction severity, thereby maintaining safety while managing operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If the autonomous level is lowered in response to sensor malfunctions, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively lowering the autonomous level only for specific functions affected by sensor malfunctions, rather than completely disabling autonomous operation. This allows the vehicle to maintain autonomous capabilities for unaffected functions, preserving operational efficiency while enhancing safety for compromised functions.
3Productivity
If data from other sensors is used to compensate for malfunctioning sensors, then operational continuity is maintained, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses intermediary sensor data from alternative sensors to bridge the gap created by malfunctioning sensors. The control system processes and integrates data from multiple sensor sources, using the intermediary information to maintain operational continuity while acknowledging potential reductions in measurement precision through appropriate safety margins and monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An example operation includes one or more of determining a sensor on a transport is not functioning properly, determining a severity of the malfunction, responsive to the severity exceeding a threshold, lowering an autonomous level of the transport, and responsive to the severity continuing to exceed the threshold, limiting an operation of the transport based on an intended output of the malfunctioning sensor.