Vehicle Driving Robot Control for Autonomous Testing Retrofit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle testing methods require human drivers, which can be risky and costly, and new automatic control systems are not adaptable for use with existing vehicles, limiting the ability to efficiently test and evaluate vehicle performance without modifying the vehicle's systems.
Innovation Solution
A robot system configured to mimic human driving behavior, equipped with actuators and sensors, that can operate existing vehicle systems such as the accelerator, steering, and brakes, allowing for autonomous vehicle testing without modifying the vehicle, and featuring an outrigger stabilization system for lateral stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human drivers are used for vehicle testing, then vehicle performance can be evaluated, but the risk of injury and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a robot that copies human driving behavior to operate the vehicle during testing. The robot includes actuators that mimic human actions on the accelerator, steering wheel, and brake, allowing vehicle performance evaluation without exposing human drivers to risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle testing system becomes self-service by using an automated robot controller to operate the vehicle independently. The robot receives test parameters and automatically executes driving maneuvers, eliminating the need for human drivers and associated risks.
2Extent of automation
If new automatic control systems are integrated into vehicles, then autonomous testing is enabled, but adaptability to existing vehicles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robot controller is designed with universal adaptability to work with existing vehicle systems. It interfaces with standard vehicle operators (accelerator, steering wheel, brake) without requiring modifications to the vehicle's original control systems, enabling autonomous testing across different vehicle platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot acts as an intermediary between the testing system and the vehicle. It translates test commands into physical actions on vehicle operators, bridging the gap between automated control requirements and existing vehicle systems without requiring integration of new control systems into the vehicle.
3Extent of automation
If vehicle systems are modified to enable autonomous testing, then automated control is achieved, but the complexity and cost of implementation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robot serves as an intermediary device that interfaces with existing vehicle operators without requiring modifications to the vehicle's control systems. It translates automated commands into physical actions on the accelerator, steering wheel, and brake, achieving automated control while maintaining vehicle system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous testing system is segmented into separate functional modules: the robot controller, actuators for each vehicle operator, and sensor systems. This modular approach allows automated control to be implemented independently without modifying the vehicle's integrated control systems, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a vehicle, a robot, and a controller. The vehicle may include an accelerator operator and a steering operator. The robot may include as accelerator actuator configured to operate the accelerator operator, and a steering actuator configured to operate-the steering operator. The controller is configured to: in response to an accelerator command, send a first signal to the accelerator actuator to operate the accelerator operator of the vehicle, and in response to a steering command, send a second, signal to the steering actuator to steer the vehicle.