Automated Vehicle Remote Maneuver Commands Under Unreliable Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling automated vehicles in unreliable communication conditions fail to ensure the safety of operations by preventing the transmission of invalid commands, which can compromise the vehicle's safety due to delayed or unreliable communication with a control center.

Innovation Solution

A method where a control center determines commands and their validity information based on channel quality, including latency and maneuver duration, ensuring that only valid commands are transmitted to the automated vehicle, even under unreliable communication conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control center transmits commands to the automated vehicle via unreliable communication channels, then the vehicle can receive remote support and assistance, but the commands may become invalid due to communication delays, compromising safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidcommand transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control center determines the validity of commands in advance by calculating the time difference between command generation and expected vehicle execution, considering predicted communication delays. This preliminary validation ensures that only commands remaining valid after transmission delays are sent to the vehicle, preventing unsafe outdated commands from being executed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the control center waits for confirmation from the automated vehicle before sending commands, then command validity can be ensured, but the response time and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand validityVSAvoidvehicle response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control center performs preliminary validity checks on commands before transmission by calculating time differences and predicting delays, allowing commands to be sent immediately without waiting for vehicle confirmation. The vehicle independently validates received commands using the same time difference method, ensuring reliability while maintaining fast response times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the automated vehicle operates independently without control center support, then communication reliability issues are avoided, but the vehicle cannot handle complex situations requiring remote assistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidability to handle complex traffic situations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the automated vehicle to operate independently with built-in validity checking capabilities, allowing it to handle complex situations by receiving control center support when needed while maintaining the ability to validate and execute commands autonomously. The vehicle can request additional support if validity checks fail or complex situations arise, combining independence with adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4040817B1Method of a control center for operating an automated vehicle and automated vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4040817B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4040817B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4040817B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of a control center (2) for operating an automated vehicle (1) and to an automated vehicle (1) that is configured to allow an operating by the control center (2) by means of the method. The method comprises as a first step (S1) a receiving of a request message comprising a request for driving assistance and information on a traffic scenario of the automated vehicle (1). As a second step (S2) of the method, the control center (2) determines at least one command for a maneuver of the automated vehicle (1) based on the traffic scenario and further determines a validity information for the at least one command, wherein the at least one command and/or the validity information is determined based on a channel quality. The final step (S3) of the method comprises a submitting of the at least one command and the validity information to the automated vehicle (1).