Tamper-Resistant Auxiliary Sensor for Autonomous Vehicle Conflict Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles are vulnerable to sensor conflicts and tampering, which can lead to safety hazards due to manipulated sensor data, causing confusion in the control system and potentially resulting in unnecessary vehicle actions.

Innovation Solution

A tamper-resistant auxiliary sensor is deployed in autonomous vehicles, which remains in an inactive mode by default and is activated only when conflicts are detected, gathering additional data to resolve sensor discrepancies and protected within a housing resistant to wireless electronic signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sensors are used to monitor conditions around the autonomous vehicle, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the system becomes more vulnerable to sensor conflicts and tampering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor data reliabilityVSAvoidsensor conflict vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An auxiliary sensor acts as an intermediary verification mechanism. When a conflict is detected between primary sensors, the auxiliary sensor gathers additional data to resolve the discrepancy. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain multiple sensors for reliability while adding a conflict-resolution layer that reduces vulnerability to tampering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system is segmented into primary sensors for continuous monitoring and an auxiliary sensor for conflict resolution. The auxiliary sensor operates in inactive mode by default and only activates when conflicts are detected, dividing the sensor functionality into specialized segments that reduce overall system vulnerability while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If an auxiliary sensor is activated continuously to resolve sensor conflicts, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconflict resolution capabilityVSAvoidauxiliary sensor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when conflicts are detected between primary sensors. This periodic activation maintains the conflict resolution capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary sensor performs partial action by remaining in inactive mode most of the time and only becoming active when specifically needed for conflict resolution. This partial operation approach maintains reliability when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If the auxiliary sensor remains active to quickly resolve conflicts, then response time is improved, but exposure to potential attacks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconflict resolution speedVSAvoidattack exposure time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary sensor is pre-positioned and pre-configured in inactive mode, ready to activate immediately when conflicts are detected. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid response when needed while minimizing exposure time to attacks by remaining inactive during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rushes through the conflict resolution process by having the auxiliary sensor activate only when necessary, quickly gather the needed data, and return to inactive mode. This approach minimizes the time the auxiliary sensor is exposed to potential attacks while maintaining the ability to resolve conflicts rapidly when they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS11453408B2Tamper-resistant sensor for autonomous vehicles

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

In one example, a method for resolving sensor conflicts in autonomous vehicles includes monitoring conditions around the autonomous vehicle by analyzing data received from a plurality of sensors, detecting a conflict in the data received from two sensors of the plurality of sensors, sending a first instruction to an auxiliary sensor of the autonomous vehicle that is not one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the first instruction instructs the auxiliary sensor to gather additional data about the conditions around the autonomous vehicle, receiving the additional data from the auxiliary sensor, and making a decision regarding operation of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the decision is based at least in part on the additional data.