Vehicle Acceleration Control Near Crosswalks to Prevent Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous vehicles may fail to identify pedestrians in crosswalks, leading to potential collisions when accelerating from a standstill.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling vehicle acceleration by monitoring current speed and acceleration rates, adjusting the target acceleration rate based on specific conditions to reduce the risk of collisions when moving from a standstill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the autonomous vehicle accelerates at a rate equal to a human driver, then the productivity and efficiency of the vehicle is improved, but the reliability and safety of the vehicle deteriorates due to potential sensor failures and undetected pedestrians
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of pedestrians in the crosswalk before initiating full acceleration. The method checks for pedestrian presence in advance, and only allows normal acceleration if no pedestrians are detected. This preliminary action prevents collisions by ensuring the path is clear before the vehicle commits to higher acceleration rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration rate is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors the crosswalk environment and adjusts the acceleration rate in real-time. When pedestrians are detected, the acceleration rate is reduced or halted; when the crosswalk is clear, normal acceleration is permitted. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the acceleration behavior to current safety conditions.
2Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle reduces acceleration rate when moving from standstill, then the reliability and safety of the vehicle is improved, but the productivity and efficiency of the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of the crosswalk environment during the acceleration phase. Rather than maintaining reduced acceleration continuously, the system periodically checks for pedestrians and only reduces acceleration when actually needed. This periodic action allows the vehicle to maintain high productivity during safe conditions while ensuring reliability when pedestrians are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration rate parameter is changed based on detected conditions. The system uses conditional logic to switch between different acceleration rates: a lower rate when pedestrians are detected and a normal rate when the crosswalk is clear. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize for safety only when necessary, maintaining productivity during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the acceleration rate of a vehicle based on the vehicle's location includes determining, via one or more sensors, that the vehicle is at a first location and reducing the vehicle's initial target acceleration rate to a first adjusted target acceleration rate in response to the location satisfying a first location condition. Subsequently, the method includes determining that the vehicle has reached a second location and increasing the first adjusted target acceleration rate to a second adjusted target acceleration rate in accordance with determining that the vehicle has reached the second location. This method can be applied to vehicles operating in autonomous or semi-autonomous modes.