Autonomous Vehicle Crossing Control Using Master-Slave Coordination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In complex semiconductor manufacturing facilities, the increasing number of processing apparatuses and autonomous driving devices along fixed paths complicates collision prevention at crossing positions, leading to higher installation and management costs and increased burden on central controllers.

Innovation Solution

A driving system with a central controller that designates master and slave autonomous driving devices through local communications to manage passage at crossing positions, reducing the need for additional hardware and distributing control responsibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional hardware is installed for collision prevention at crossing positions, then collision prevention capability is improved, but installation and management costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision prevention capabilityVSAvoidinstallation and management costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical collision prevention hardware with a communication-based control system. Autonomous driving devices use local communications to exchange information and coordinate passage at crossing positions, eliminating the need for additional physical collision prevention hardware while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous driving devices themselves perform collision prevention by autonomously communicating with each other and making passage decisions. Each device determines its own master-slave status and controls its passage based on local communications, without requiring external control hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the central controller manages all passage control at crossing positions, then collision prevention is ensured, but the burden on the central controller increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidcontrol burden on central controller

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized control function into distributed control among autonomous driving devices. Each device independently determines its master-slave status and makes passage decisions through local communications, segmenting the control burden from the central controller while maintaining collision prevention through coordinated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the number of autonomous driving devices is increased, then transportation capacity is improved, but collision prevention difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation capacityVSAvoidcollision prevention difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each autonomous driving device autonomously determines its master-slave status and makes passage decisions through local communications with other devices. This self-service approach allows the system to handle increased numbers of devices without proportionally increasing collision prevention complexity, as each device independently manages its own passage control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11474536B2Driving system for controlling an autonomous vehicle and method of preventing collision at crossing position

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A driving system includes a central controller, a plurality of driving paths forming a least crossing position, and a plurality of autonomous driving devices configured to drive along at least one of the driving paths through the crossing position. The central controller is configured to determine a plurality of target driving devices from among the autonomous driving devices that are within a certain range of the crossing position, designate one of the target driving devices as a master driving device and the other of the target driving device as slave driving devices. The master driving device controls passage of the slave driving devices through the crossing position.