Autonomous Vehicle Selection Using State Data for Emergency Dispatch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in effectively controlling and directing autonomous vehicles, especially in emergency response situations, due to differences in vehicle capabilities and the need for decoding and processing large amounts of information.

Innovation Solution

A computing platform with a processor, memory, and communication interface receives vehicle data from on-board monitoring systems to detect emergencies and select appropriate autonomous vehicles, generating dispatch commands for emergency response functions, including navigation and execution of tasks such as delivering supplies or providing medical assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a computing platform selects autonomous vehicles based on comprehensive state information and capabilities, then the reliability and effectiveness of emergency response is improved, but the complexity of vehicle selection and coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency response effectivenessVSAvoidvehicle selection and coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the emergency response function into multiple autonomous vehicles with specialized capabilities (medical supply delivery, patient transport, scene assessment). The computing platform divides the response task and assigns specific segments to appropriate vehicles based on their capabilities and real-time state information, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous vehicles are designed with multi-functional capabilities to perform various emergency response tasks (delivering medical supplies, transporting patients, assessing scenes). This universality allows the system to handle different emergency scenarios with a fleet of vehicles that can adapt to various requirements, improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the computing platform processes and decodes large amounts of vehicle data from multiple sources, then the precision of emergency detection and vehicle selection is improved, but the time required for information processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency detection accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and pre-processing vehicle state information (location, speed, battery level, sensor data) before emergencies occur. This allows the computing platform to have ready-to-use, processed data when emergencies are detected, improving detection accuracy without adding processing time during critical response moments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual information processing and decision-making with automated computing platform algorithms that can rapidly decode and analyze large amounts of vehicle data. This substitution of mechanical/human processing with automated computational systems enables high-precision emergency detection and vehicle selection without significant time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system coordinates multiple autonomous vehicles with different capabilities for emergency response, then the versatility of response functions is improved, but the difficulty of controlling and directing vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse function versatilityVSAvoidvehicle control and direction ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The computing platform serves as an intermediary between emergency response requirements and autonomous vehicle capabilities. It receives emergency information, determines required response functions, and automatically translates these into appropriate dispatch commands for vehicles with matching capabilities. This intermediary role simplifies control by abstracting the complexity of coordinating diverse vehicles behind a unified command interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11694553B2Controlling autonomous vehicles to provide automated emergency response functions

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling autonomous vehicles to provide automated emergency response functions. A computing platform may receive vehicle data associated with a vehicle from an on-board vehicle monitoring system associated with the vehicle. Subsequently, the computing platform may detect an occurrence of an emergency at a location. Thereafter, the computing platform may select an autonomous vehicle to respond to the emergency at the location based on autonomous vehicle state information. Then, the computing platform may generate one or more dispatch commands directing the autonomous vehicle to move to the location and execute one or more emergency response functions. Subsequently, the computing platform may send, to an on-board autonomous vehicle control system associated with the autonomous vehicle, the one or more dispatch commands directing the autonomous vehicle to move to the location and execute the one or more emergency response functions.