Vehicle Control Handoff via Operator Absence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems face inefficiencies in switching between manual and autonomous modes, particularly in detecting the absence of an operator within a geofenced area, leading to potential downtime and inefficient use of vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that uses sensors and a timer to determine the operator's presence or absence within a geofenced area, allowing for seamless handoff from operator control to remote server control, enabling efficient switching between manual and autonomous modes by instructing the vehicle to follow commands from a remote server when the operator is absent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle waits for explicit handoff confirmation from the operator before switching to autonomous mode, then control transition reliability is improved, but vehicle downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of operator presence/absence using sensors before the handoff is formally completed. By detecting whether the operator has left the vehicle in advance, the system can prepare for mode transition and reduce waiting time while maintaining reliability through confirmed handoff signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors to continuously monitor operator presence and determines whether to proceed with autonomous mode based on this feedback. The feedback mechanism allows the system to balance between waiting for explicit handoff confirmation and reducing downtime by detecting operator absence.
2Productivity
If the vehicle switches to autonomous mode immediately when operator absence is detected, then productivity is improved, but control transition safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of operator absence using sensors before switching to autonomous mode. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for productivity improvement while maintaining safety through the additional step of receiving explicit handoff confirmation from the operator before final mode transition.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple sensors to detect operator presence, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operator presence detection system is segmented into multiple independent sensor components, each performing a simple detection function. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high detection accuracy through multiple data points while keeping each individual sensor component relatively simple and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining that a vehicle entered a geofenced area, start a timer; upon determining that a handoff of the vehicle from an operator to a remote server has not occurred since starting the timer and that the timer has exceeded a time threshold, determine whether the operator is absent based on data from sensors; and then, upon determining that the operator is absent, instruct the vehicle to follow a command received from the remote server.