V2X Sensor Validation for Autonomous Driving Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions fail to effectively detect and address malfunctions in onboard vehicle sensors, which are crucial for accurate operation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving systems, as they often fail due to various reasons such as sensor impairments or degradations.

Innovation Solution

A cooperative sensor activity validation system that uses Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) messages to compare onboard roadway segment activity data with off-board data from external sources, determining a consistency level and evaluating the working status of sensors to identify potential malfunctions and adjust vehicle control system operations accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If onboard sensors are used to collect roadway segment activity data, then the vehicle can operate ADAS and autonomous driving functions, but the sensors may malfunction due to impairments or degradations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous driving capabilityVSAvoidsensor working status
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external validation system that acts as an intermediary to verify sensor data accuracy. This external system independently observes roadway conditions and compares its observations with onboard sensor data, providing a mediator verification mechanism that detects sensor malfunctions without adding physical sensors to the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where validation results from external sources are continuously compared with onboard sensor readings. When discrepancies are detected, the system generates alerts and can modify vehicle control operations, creating a closed-loop feedback system that continuously monitors and corrects for sensor failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If multiple onboard sensors are deployed to improve detection accuracy, then the system can better monitor roadway conditions, but the complexity of validating sensor accuracy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroadway condition detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor validation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses external validation sources as intermediaries to simplify the validation process. Instead of requiring complex cross-validation among multiple onboard sensors, the system leverages independent external observations to verify sensor accuracy, reducing the complexity of the validation architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates virtual copies of sensor data from external sources to compare against onboard sensor readings. By generating equivalent roadway condition data from independent sources, the system can validate accuracy without directly replicating the physical sensor validation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the vehicle control system operates autonomously based on sensor data, then driving efficiency is improved, but safety may be compromised if sensors malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving efficiencyVSAvoidsafety risk from sensor failure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting sensor malfunctions before they compromise safety. The continuous validation process identifies sensor failures in advance, allowing the system to take preventive measures such as alerting the driver or modifying control operations before unsafe conditions develop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring sensor data against external validation sources and immediately responding to discrepancies. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain safety by detecting and responding to sensor failures in real-time, preventing unsafe autonomous operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If sensor malfunction detection is implemented continuously, then system reliability is improved, but computational resources and processing time are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor malfunction detection capabilityVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing validation only when necessary rather than continuously processing all sensor data. The system can trigger validation based on specific conditions such as detected discrepancies, environmental factors, or critical driving scenarios, reducing computational energy consumption while maintaining adequate reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11257304B2Cooperative sensor activity validation system
Publication Date: 2022.02.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • US11257304B2 patent drawing
  • US11257304B2 patent drawing
  • US11257304B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The disclosure includes embodiments for determining a working status of a set of sensors onboard in a connected vehicle through a validation of roadway segment activity data. In some embodiments, a method for the connected vehicle includes receiving, via a communication unit of the connected vehicle, a Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) message that includes off-board roadway segment activity data. The method includes generating onboard roadway segment activity data of the connected vehicle. The method includes determining a working status of a set of onboard sensors of the connected vehicle based on an evaluation between the onboard roadway segment activity data and the off-board roadway segment activity data. The method includes modifying an operation of a vehicle control system of the connected vehicle based on the working status of the set of onboard sensors.