Tele-Operated Vehicle Deadlock Resolution Using Shared Reference Locations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tele-operated driving systems face inefficiencies in communication and resource usage when dealing with deadlock situations in autonomous vehicles, as each vehicle requires redundant information and time to understand the situation, leading to increased data traffic and solving time.

Innovation Solution

The method involves detecting deadlock situations, determining a reference location, and reporting it with a timestamp to a control center, enabling the reuse of information for subsequent vehicles, thereby reducing total deadlock solving time and resource consumption through tele-operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each autonomous vehicle independently processes deadlock situations through tele-operation, then each vehicle receives dedicated attention and resolution, but communication resources are wasted and solving time increases due to redundant information transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeadlock resolution reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple deadlock situation reports from different vehicles into a single centralized database at the control center. When the same deadlock situation is detected by multiple vehicles, the control center identifies it as a duplicate based on matching situation descriptors and location data, then provides a single pre-computed resolution instruction to all affected vehicles. This combining approach eliminates redundant communication while ensuring all vehicles receive the same reliable resolution guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control center performs preliminary analysis and resolution computation for deadlock situations before they affect multiple vehicles. By maintaining a database of known deadlock patterns and their resolutions, the system prepares resolution instructions in advance. When a vehicle reports a deadlock, the control center checks if a resolution already exists in the database and can immediately provide it without real-time computation delays, improving both speed and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If each vehicle reports complete deadlock situation information to the control center, then the control center has full information for resolution, but data traffic increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation information completenessVSAvoiddata traffic volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for deadlock identification and resolution from the complete vehicle sensor data. Instead of transmitting all raw sensor information, the system extracts key descriptors such as situation type, location coordinates, and critical obstacle positions. This extraction process maintains sufficient information completeness for the control center to understand and resolve the deadlock while dramatically reducing the volume of transmitted data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The control center maintains a copied database of known deadlock situations and their resolutions. When a vehicle encounters a similar deadlock, the system copies the relevant resolution instructions from the database rather than computing a new solution from scratch. This copying approach ensures information completeness for resolution while minimizing data traffic by reusing previously computed solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If the control center processes each deadlock situation independently for each vehicle, then each vehicle receives customized resolution, but total solving time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresolution customizationVSAvoidtotal deadlock solving time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal resolution approach where the control center identifies common deadlock patterns that affect multiple vehicles and computes a single resolution strategy that works for all. The system determines whether a deadlock situation is unique or recurring, and for recurring situations, applies a universal resolution instruction to all affected vehicles simultaneously. This multi-functionality approach maintains ease of operation by providing appropriate customization for unique situations while dramatically reducing solving time for common patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control center performs preliminary classification of deadlock situations upon first detection, categorizing them by type, location, and characteristics. This preliminary action creates a structured database that enables rapid matching of future situations to known patterns. When a new deadlock is reported, the system immediately checks against the pre-classified database and can provide pre-computed resolutions without重新启动 the full analysis process, thus reducing total solving time while maintaining resolution effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3964909B1Methods, computer programs, apparatuses for a vehicle and a control center for resolving a deadlock traffic situation of an automatically operated vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3964909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3964909B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3964909B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments provide a vehicle, a control center, methods, computer programs, apparatuses, for a vehicle and for a control center for resolving a deadlock traffic situation of an automatically operated vehicle. The method (10) for resolving a deadlock traffic situation in an automatically operated vehicle (300) comprises detecting (11) the deadlock traffic situation and determining (12) information on a reference location for the deadlock traffic situation. The method (10) further comprises reporting (13) the deadlock traffic situation with the information on the reference location for the deadlock traffic situation and a time stamp to a control center (400) and entering (14) a tele-operated driving session in coordination with the control center (400). The method (10) further comprises resolving (15) the deadlock traffic situation using tele-operation by the control center (400).