Vehicle Control Partition Updates Without Program Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems face challenges in dynamically updating programs without interfering with other operations, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns, particularly in embedded systems like self-driving vehicles where multiple programs are required for different conditions, resulting in high hardware costs and resource inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A control controller that manages functions in predetermined groups, allowing for dynamic changes in function groups in response to environmental changes, using a partition update unit and mode change unit to execute updated function groups without affecting other system operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple programs are installed to handle different conditions (e.g., country A and country B sign recognition), then the system can operate in various conditions, but the hardware cost increases due to requiring higher performance CPU and memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into multiple ECU units, each capable of executing different programs. Instead of requiring one powerful ECU to run all programs simultaneously, the system divides functionality across multiple ECUs. When a program needs to be executed, the appropriate ECU is selected and activated, allowing the system to handle different conditions (countries, failure modes) without requiring each ECU to have maximum hardware specifications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If programs are dynamically replaced during traveling, then the system can adapt to changing conditions, but program interference occurs affecting control performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a program management unit as an intermediary between the execution unit and multiple programs. This intermediary manages program loading, activation, and switching, ensuring that only one program is actively executed at a time in the execution unit. The program management unit coordinates program transitions and prevents interference by controlling access to the execution unit, thereby maintaining control performance while enabling dynamic adaptability.
3Reliability
If time division scheduling is used to prevent program interference, then program execution is isolated, but resources cannot be used effectively due to static slot allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic ECU selection and program activation based on current system conditions. Instead of using fixed time division scheduling where slots are pre-allocated regardless of need, the system dynamically determines which ECU should execute which program based on the current condition (e.g., which country's signs are relevant, which ECUs are functional). This dynamic approach maintains execution isolation through the program management unit while significantly improving resource utilization by activating only the necessary programs and ECUs for the current operating context.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure improves usability and stability of a control system while suppressing resource consumption. A control controller according to the present disclosure divides, using partitioning, function groups for which control is ongoing and function groups to be updated, and updates, in accordance with conditions, only the function groups to be updated, thereby updating the required control functions while continuing appropriate control processes (see fig. 1).