Autonomous Vehicle Ledger Using Sensors for Liability Shifts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack a trusted mechanism to automatically enforce liability arrangements associated with autonomous vehicles, as there is no standardized method to shift liability between operators, insurers, and manufacturers based on vehicle control states.
Innovation Solution
A distributed ledger system is implemented to record and enforce smart contracts related to autonomous vehicle operations, using sensors to monitor conditions and generate transactions that update the ledger, ensuring transparent and objective liability assignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a distributed ledger system is implemented to automatically enforce smart contracts, then liability assignment accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed ledger system as an intermediary mechanism that automatically enforces smart contracts related to autonomous vehicle operations. The ledger acts as a trusted mediator that records sensor data, detects condition changes, and executes liability assignments without human intervention, thereby improving accuracy while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic enforcement of smart contracts based on sensor data. The distributed ledger autonomously monitors vehicle conditions, detects changes, generates transactions, and executes liability assignments without requiring manual processing, enabling the system to serve itself in enforcing contractual obligations.
2Reliability
If sensors continuously monitor vehicle conditions and generate transactions, then reliability of liability enforcement is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic monitoring where sensors continuously collect data but transactions are generated only when specific condition changes are detected. This periodic action approach maintains reliability by capturing all relevant events while reducing energy consumption by avoiding continuous transaction processing and transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring smart contracts with predefined conditions and thresholds. Sensors monitor vehicle conditions against these pre-set parameters, and transactions are automatically generated only when predefined conditions are met, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining enforcement reliability.
3Loss of information
If a distributed ledger is used to record all vehicle transactions, then transparency of liability assignment is improved, but data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential information needed for liability enforcement and stores it in the distributed ledger. Instead of recording all raw sensor data, the system extracts key condition changes, transaction details, and enforcement outcomes, maintaining transparency while significantly reducing storage requirements by excluding redundant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger is segmented into distinct blocks, each containing specific transactions related to particular condition changes or enforcement events. This segmentation organizes data efficiently, allowing the system to maintain comprehensive transparency while managing storage requirements through structured, modular data organization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for maintaining a distributed ledger and/or blockchain of transactions and/or events pertaining to autonomous vehicles and/or smart contracts are provided. One or more processors may monitor one or more sensors associated with an autonomous vehicle. Based upon the outputs of the sensors, a change in condition of the autonomous vehicle may be detected. The condition may relate to operation, or an operational state of the vehicle and/or a condition associated with a smart contract. The processors may generate a transaction describing the detected change in the condition of the vehicle. The transaction may be transmitted to an enforcement server. As a result, an up-to-date ledger of autonomous vehicle and/or smart contract transactions and/or events may be maintained.