Vehicle Controller for Visibility-Aware Autonomous Driving Handover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle controllers fail to ensure driver visibility during autonomous driving transitions, particularly when the windshield wiper is set to manual mode, leading to potential visibility issues that hinder safe control transfer.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller that determines the suitability of switching to autonomous driving based on driver visibility conditions, automatically controlling devices like windshield wipers, headlights, and air conditioners to maintain visibility, and continues manual control if necessary to prevent visibility issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control is transferred to autonomous driving mode, then productivity is improved, but driver visibility may not be ensured when wiper is in manual mode
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts future visibility conditions before transferring to autonomous mode and proactively adjusts wiper operation to ensure visibility will be maintained when control transfers occur. This preliminary action prevents visibility issues that would otherwise arise after mode switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors visibility conditions and adjusts wiper operation based on real-time feedback about environmental factors and predicted future conditions, ensuring visibility is maintained dynamically as conditions change during autonomous operation.
2Reliability
If wiper operates automatically, then driver visibility is ensured during autonomous driving, but driver control flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper control system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on current and predicted visibility conditions. The controller can switch between automatic and manual modes, and adjust wiper activation thresholds and timing, allowing the system to adapt to varying environmental conditions and driver preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the wiper including activation thresholds, timing, and intensity based on environmental conditions and predicted future states. This allows optimal visibility maintenance while preserving driver control flexibility when conditions permit.
3Reliability
If manual driving control is maintained, then driver visibility is ensured, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By predicting future visibility conditions and proactively managing wiper operation before autonomous mode transfer, the system ensures visibility will be maintained when manual control is needed, thereby enabling safer and more efficient autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous visibility management through coordinated wiper operation that bridges manual and autonomous modes, ensuring uninterrupted visibility assurance throughout mode transitions and during autonomous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle controller includes a processor configured to determine whether a vehicle under manual driving control is in a situation that allows for starting autonomous driving control of the vehicle, switch, when the vehicle is in a situation that allows for starting autonomous driving control, control of the vehicle from manual driving control to autonomous driving control in the case where operating mode of a device related to ensuring visibility of a driver of the vehicle is set to automatic mode to automatically control the device, and continue manual driving control in the case where the operating mode of the device related to ensuring the driver's visibility is set to manual mode to manually control the device and where the driver's visibility will not be ensured unless the device operates.