Side-Following Autonomous Vehicle Control via Operator Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic control systems for autonomous vehicles lack high-bandwidth communication capabilities, sufficient processing power for autonomous behaviors, and integrated safety management, limiting their ability for autonomous operation and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A versatile robotic control module that utilizes a plurality of sensors to maintain an operator at the side of the vehicle, enabling various modes of operation such as side-following, teleoperation, and path mapping, with integrated sensor systems for obstacle detection and avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an operator is positioned at the side of the vehicle for natural interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but the vehicle must continuously adjust its path to maintain operator position, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the operator's position using sensors and feeds this information back to the path planning module, which adjusts the vehicle's trajectory in real-time to maintain the operator at a safe side position while enabling natural interaction
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated for obstacle detection and operator tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (cameras, LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors) into an integrated sensor system that simultaneously performs operator position detection, obstacle detection, and navigation, sharing processing resources and data pipelines to manage complexity
3Reliability
If the vehicle operates in semi-autonomous mode with operator supervision, then reliability is improved, but extent of automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of automation based on operational context, enabling fully autonomous operation during routine tasks while transitioning to operator-supervised modes when uncertainty or complex situations are detected, optimizing both reliability and automation extent
Data Source
AI summary
The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. User input selecting a path for the vehicle is received from an operator. The vehicle responds to the user input by moving along the selected path in a manner that maintains the operator on a side of the vehicle. The illustrative embodiments further provide a method and apparatus for improved machine control. The vehicle receives a power-up command, instructions to execute a planned path, and information identifying a leader. The leader is an operator. The vehicle then executes the planned path using the information identifying the leader in order to follow a path of the leader. The vehicle moves along the path in a manner that maintains the leader in a position proximate to a side of the vehicle.