Tele-Operated Driving Handover Using Predicted Link Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tele-operated driving systems experience interruptions and lack smooth takeover when a deadlock situation occurs, as they require the vehicle to stop and initiate a tele-operated driving session, leading to potential emergency brakes and delays.

Innovation Solution

A method that identifies impending deadlock situations, predicts communication quality with the control center, and reduces vehicle speed to a maximum drivable speed in anticipation of a tele-operated driving session, ensuring a smoother transition and timely control takeover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle stops immediately when a deadlock situation is detected, then the tele-operated driving session can be initiated, but the transition is interrupted and may cause emergency brakes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetele-operated driving session initiationVSAvoiddriving session transition smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by reducing vehicle speed and initiating tele-operated driving session setup before the deadlock situation fully occurs. This allows the vehicle to transition smoothly to remote control without abrupt stopping or emergency braking, maintaining operational continuity while preparing the control center for takeover.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by reducing speed in advance to counteract the potential need for emergency braking. This preemptive speed reduction creates a buffer that allows for smoother transition to tele-operated mode without sudden deceleration events that would disrupt the driving experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle reduces speed proactively to maximum drivable speed for tele-operated session, then the transition becomes smoother and delays are prevented, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransition smoothnessVSAvoidvehicle energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary speed reduction to the maximum drivable speed for tele-operated sessions before the actual transition is needed. This preliminary action creates a controlled deceleration profile that avoids emergency braking while minimizing energy waste by maintaining this reduced speed only until the tele-operated session is successfully initiated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts vehicle speed based on the detected deadlock situation and communication quality predictions. Rather than maintaining a fixed speed reduction, the vehicle adapts its speed profile to balance smooth transition requirements with energy efficiency, reducing speed only to the extent necessary for successful tele-operated session initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If the vehicle waits for confirmation of tele-operated driving session requirement, then unnecessary speed reductions are avoided, but delays occur in initiating the session

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy waste from unnecessary speed reductionVSAvoiddelay in session initiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary speed reduction when a deadlock situation is detected, rather than waiting for full confirmation of tele-operated session requirement. This preliminary action reduces the time delay in initiating the session while the vehicle maintains energy efficiency by only reducing speed to the maximum drivable speed for tele-operated sessions, not to a complete stop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by reducing speed to the maximum drivable speed for tele-operated sessions rather than reducing to zero or maintaining full speed. This partial speed reduction is sufficient to enable smooth transition to remote control while avoiding the excessive energy consumption of complete stopping, and it can be maintained until confirmation is received.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3893073B1Method and apparatus for invoking a tele-operated driving session
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3893073B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3893073B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3893073B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Method, a computer program, and an apparatus for invoking a tele-operated driving session for a vehicle equipped with an automated driving function. The application is further related to a vehicle equipped with an automated driving function, which makes use of such a method or apparatus. In a first step, an impending situation that may require a tele-operated driving session is identified (10). In addition, a quality of service for a communication between the vehicle and a control center for a location where the tele-operated driving session should be performed is predicted (11). A speed of the vehicle is then reduced (12) a to a maximum drivable speed for a tele-operated driving session with the predicted quality of service. Once it is confirmed that the tele-operated driving session is required, the tele-operated driving session is initiated (13).