Autonomous Driving Maneuvers Using Traffic as Sun Glare Shields
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in maintaining safe and accurate sensor data due to sun glare, leading to potential wrong decisions and trajectory issues during semi-autonomous driving, especially during sunrise and sunset when sunlight directly affects front sensors.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle employs a method to detect sun glare and adapt its driving trajectory by using nearby dynamic objects as shields to minimize sunlight impact on sensors, integrating a sun glare detector and a computing system to identify and execute maneuvers that position the vehicle in a sheltered area, thereby preventing sensor glare and ensuring continuous data accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dynamic range of image sensor is increased to deal with luminosity, then the sensor can handle sun glare better, but the sensor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic objects (other vehicles, trucks, or trailers) as intermediary shields between the sun and the autonomous vehicle's sensors. These objects block direct sunlight from reaching the sensors, eliminating glare without requiring expensive high dynamic range sensors. The system detects suitable dynamic objects and maneuvers the vehicle to positions where these objects provide natural shading.
2Reliability
If diagnostic logic is integrated to warn the autopilot about sensor perception issues, then the system can detect sun glare effects, but the automated driving support system availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of sun glare conditions and proactively maneuvers the vehicle to avoid glare before it degrades sensor performance. By detecting the sun's position and predicting glare risk, the system takes preventive action through trajectory adjustments, eliminating the need for reactive diagnostic warnings and maintaining continuous operational availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data quality and sun position, providing feedback to the trajectory planning module. When glare is detected or predicted, the system adjusts the driving trajectory in real-time to maintain optimal sensor conditions, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains availability while ensuring perception accuracy.
3Reliability
If the vehicle requests driver takeover when light conditions are too difficult, then safety is maintained, but the automated driving support system availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the driving trajectory in real-time based on sun position and sensor conditions. Rather than statically determining when to hand over to the driver, the system continuously optimizes the vehicle's position relative to the sun and surrounding objects, maintaining autonomous operation availability while ensuring safety through adaptive trajectory management.
4Reliability
If the vehicle uses other vehicles as shields against sun glare, then sensor glare is avoided, but the driving trajectory must be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The trajectory planning module serves multiple functions: it not only plans the driving path to reach the destination but also simultaneously optimizes the vehicle's position relative to the sun and surrounding objects for sensor protection. This multi-functionality integrates glare avoidance into the existing trajectory planning system without requiring separate complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a)~2d)
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention refers to a method for safe at least semi-autonomous driving operation of an ego vehicle (1) in case of sun glare (2), comprising the following steps: checking, by a computing system, whether one or more vehicle sensors of the ego vehicle (1) are dazzled by sun glare (2) (10); if yes (T), detecting environmental information by a detection system of the ego vehicle (1) (20); checking, by a computing system, the environmental information for a presence of at least one dynamic object (3), which is suitable for intercepting the sun glare (2) during driving operation of the ego vehicle (1) (30); if yes (T), checking, by a computing system, whether the ego vehicle (1) can execute a driving maneuver in such a way that the at least one dynamic object (3) intercepts the sun glare (2) during driving operation of the ego vehicle (1) (40); if yes (T), executing the driving maneuver (50). The present invention also refers to a driving support system comprising means for executing the steps of the method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a vehicle comprising the driving support system. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the steps of the method. Furthermore, the present invention refers to a data carrier signal and a computer-readable medium.