In-Vehicle Control System Redundancy via Sensor Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and cost of in-vehicle control systems for autonomous driving, particularly due to the need for redundancy in external environment recognition sensors and power supply systems, lead to challenges in ensuring safe operation during failures, including power supply interruptions and fluctuations, which can impact vehicle control and safety.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle control system with a configuration that includes multiple control devices, sensors, and wirings, where each control device has a power supply unit and detection unit to monitor and switch power supply paths seamlessly, allowing continuous operation by acquiring data from other control devices during power abnormalities, reducing the need for redundant sensors and minimizing power supply disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of external environment recognition sensors is increased to ensure safe operation during failures, then the reliability of the in-vehicle control system is improved, but the system cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes control devices universal by enabling them to perform both normal control functions and fallback control functions. Each control device is configured to acquire sensor data through multiple paths (direct path and indirect path through other control devices), allowing any control device to take over sensor acquisition tasks if its dedicated path fails, thereby reducing the need for additional redundant sensors while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If redundant power supply systems are implemented to ensure continuous operation during power failures, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply paths by configuring multiple control devices to share common power supply lines. Instead of providing separate redundant power supplies for each control device, the system allows control devices to draw power through alternative paths from the same power source, reducing the overall power supply infrastructure while ensuring continuous operation during localized power failures
3Reliability
If the number of wirings is increased to provide redundant data paths for sensor data transmission, then the reliability of data transmission is improved, but the wiring space and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes wirings universal by enabling existing data transmission lines to serve multiple purposes. Control devices are configured to receive sensor data through their dedicated wirings during normal operation and switch to receiving data through other control devices' wirings during failures. This multi-functional use of existing wirings provides redundant data paths without requiring additional wiring infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an in-vehicle control system capable of reducing an increase in cost accompanying advancement of a fallback operation. Therefore, the in-vehicle control system includes: a plurality of control circuits 3 and 4 respectively including control units that perform data communication with each other; an external environment recognition sensor a5; and a plurality of wirings 11, 12, 13, and 14 connecting the external environment recognition sensor a5 and the plurality of control circuits 3 and 4. The plurality of control circuits 3 and 4 include: a first power supply unit that supplies power to the external environment recognition sensor a5 via a corresponding wiring among the plurality of wirings 11, 12, 13, and 14; and a first detection unit that detects an abnormality related to the power supplied to the external environment recognition sensor a5. A control unit in a control device including a first detection unit that has detected the abnormality is controlled to acquire data of the external environment recognition sensor a5 from a control unit included in the other control device.