Utility Vehicle Mode Switching for Autonomous Route Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous driving vehicles struggle with making temporary route changes or being applied to tasks other than their initial intended purpose.
Innovation Solution
A utility vehicle equipped with a mode switcher that allows switching between manned operation and autonomous travel modes using distinct authentication keys for each mode, enabling flexible utilization on predetermined routes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle operates in autonomous travel mode on a predetermined route, then productivity is improved by eliminating the need for manned operation, but adaptability deteriorates because the vehicle cannot easily make temporary route changes or be applied to different tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between autonomous travel mode and manual operation mode based on operational needs. The mode switcher allows the vehicle to transition from automated route following to manual control, enabling flexible adaptation to temporary route changes or different tasks while maintaining high productivity during routine operations
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is designed with dual-mode capability, serving both as an autonomous vehicle for routine tasks and as a manually controllable vehicle for temporary or varied tasks. This multi-functionality allows the same vehicle to handle both predetermined route operations and ad-hoc tasks without requiring separate vehicles
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle allows manual operation for temporary tasks, then adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to the need for manned operation during routine tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic mode switching where the vehicle can operate autonomously for routine high-productivity tasks and switch to manual mode when adaptability is needed. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the balance between productivity and task flexibility based on real-time operational requirements
3Device complexity
If the system uses a single authentication method for mode switching, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because unauthorized mode changes could occur
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into two distinct authenticators: one for autonomous mode and one for manual mode. This segmentation ensures that each mode has its own dedicated authentication mechanism, preventing unauthorized mode changes while keeping each individual authenticator relatively simple in design
Data Source
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AI summary
A utility vehicle includes: a travel structure including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a steering structure mounted to the front wheel, and a drive source that drives the front wheel and/or the rear wheel; at least one operator used to operate the travel structure; circuitry that controls the travel structure; and a mode switcher that switches the utility vehicle between a manned operation mode in which the utility vehicle travels in response to operations on the operator and an autonomous travel mode in which the circuitry allows the utility vehicle to autonomously travel on a given travel route without any operations on the operator.