Soft Pedestrian Target Joints With Magnetic Release for Collision Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedestrian targets for autonomous vehicle testing lack a soft covering and can cause damage to test vehicles and personnel during collisions, and existing mannequins do not effectively simulate the joint movements of pedestrians.
Innovation Solution
A soft pedestrian target with multiple movable joints, featuring hard joint rotating members inside a soft covering, uses joint motors, swing rods, and limb connecting members with magnetic connections to simulate hip and knee joint movements, and includes a controller for synchronized movement control and collision protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard connecting member is used for joint connection, then joint movement and release during collision can be achieved, but hard points of collision are created that can damage the test vehicle and motors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a soft covering layer that envelops the hard connecting members and motors. This flexible shell allows the internal hard structures to maintain their mechanical function for joint movement while the soft external surface eliminates hard collision points, thereby protecting the test vehicle during impact tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where motors are housed within the hard connecting members, which in turn are covered by the soft covering. This multi-layer nesting allows the motor to be protected by the hard structure during normal operation, while the soft outer layer protects the entire assembly during collision.
2Ease of operation
If motors are exposed for joint actuation, then joint movement can be controlled, but motors are vulnerable to damage during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The motors are nested within the hard connecting members, which are themselves enclosed by the soft covering. This nested arrangement allows the motors to remain accessible for control while being protected by multiple layers during collision events.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft covering acts as a pre-positioned cushion that absorbs and distributes collision forces before they can reach the motors. This beforehand protection mechanism ensures motor reliability during impact without interfering with normal actuation operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft covering is added to eliminate hard collision points, then vehicle safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The soft covering is implemented as a relatively simple flexible shell that envelops the existing mechanical structures. This approach adds the necessary safety function without requiring complex internal modifications to the joint and motor assemblies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The target withstands vehicle collisions, simulates realistic joint movements, and reduces the risk of motor damage by using magnetic separation and power-off mechanisms, ensuring safety for both the test vehicle and personnel.
Implementation Method 1
an end of the joint swing rod connected to the limb connecting member is provided with a first joint magnet, and an end of the limb connecting member connected to the joint swing rod is provided with a second joint magnet; and the first joint magnet and the second joint magnet are provided with opposite poles and arranged in a pair
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A soft pedestrian target with multiple movable joints and a joint thereof are provided. The soft pedestrian target with multiple movable joints includes arms, a trunk, legs, and joint rotating members, where the joint rotating members are provided at hip joints between the two legs and the trunk, and at knee joints of the two legs, and include hip joint rotating members and knee joint rotating members; the arms, the trunk, and the legs form a soft covering; the hip joint rotating members and the knee joint rotating members are made of a hard material and are wrapped inside the soft covering; the hip joint rotating members are configured to simulate a hip joint movement of a real human; and the knee joint rotating members are configured to simulate a knee joint movement of the real human.