Autonomous Vehicle Deadlock Resolution via Shared Teleoperation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular communication systems fail to efficiently resolve deadlock traffic situations by reusing ToD information among vehicles facing the same deadlock, leading to redundant communication overhead and inefficient use of control center resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where vehicles detect deadlock situations, report them to a control center, enter a tele-operated driving session, and share identification information with other vehicles to reuse previously solved deadlock solutions, reducing redundant communication and optimizing control center operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each vehicle independently reports deadlock situations to the control center, then each vehicle can receive tele-operated driving instructions, but communication overhead increases and control center resources are inefficiently used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeadlock resolution reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Vehicles that detect the same deadlock situation are merged into a single tele-operated driving session. The control center identifies that multiple vehicles face the identical deadlock and consolidates their requests, allowing one operator to resolve the situation for all affected vehicles simultaneously, thereby reducing redundant communication and control center workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single tele-operated driving session is designed to serve multiple vehicles facing the same deadlock situation. The session becomes a universal solution that can be applied to any vehicle encountering the identified deadlock, eliminating the need for separate resolution processes for each vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If each vehicle independently seeks help from the control center, then each vehicle can be resolved individually, but control center resources are inefficiently utilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeadlock resolution speedVSAvoidcontrol center operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple deadlock resolution operations are merged into a single control center session. Instead of handling each vehicle separately, the control center combines affected vehicles into one session, allowing the operator to resolve the deadlock for all vehicles simultaneously, improving productivity without proportionally increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Once a deadlock situation is identified and resolved for one vehicle, the solution is copied and applied to other vehicles facing the identical deadlock. The control center retrieves and reuses the previously determined resolution approach, reducing the complexity of handling each vehicle independently while maintaining high resolution speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If tele-operated driving sessions are established for each deadlock situation, then vehicles can receive assistance, but redundant sessions are created for the same deadlock

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeadlock resolution reliabilityVSAvoidsession management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Before establishing a new tele-operated driving session, the control center performs a preliminary check to identify if other vehicles are already participating in a session for the same deadlock situation. This preliminary action prevents the creation of redundant sessions and ensures that vehicles are appropriately consolidated into existing sessions, reducing session management complexity while maintaining reliable resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles share information about ongoing tele-operated driving sessions. When a vehicle detects a deadlock, it checks for existing sessions that may already be handling the same situation, and the control center uses this feedback to consolidate vehicles into appropriate sessions, avoiding redundant session creation and reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3965442B1Methods, computer programs, apparatuses, vehicle and control center for resolving a deadlock traffic situation of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 VOLKSWAGEN AG

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AI summary

Embodiments provide to methods, computer programs, apparatuses, a vehicle, and a control center for resolving a deadlock traffic situation of a vehicle. The method (10) for resolving a deadlock traffic situation in an autonomously operated vehicle comprises detecting (11) the deadlock traffic situation and reporting (12) the deadlock traffic situation to a control center. The method (10) further comprises entering (13) a tele-operated driving session in coordination with the control center and determining (14) information on an identification of the deadlock traffic situation in coordination with the control center. The method (10) further comprises forwarding (15) the information on the identification of the deadlock situation to other vehicles and resolving (16) the deadlock traffic situation using tele-operation by the control center.