Vehicle EDR Ejection Assembly for Crash and Fire Data Survival
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic data recorders (EDRs) in vehicles face challenges in surviving extreme conditions during crashes, fires, and other unforeseen events, leading to potential data loss, which is critical for autonomous vehicles that store comprehensive performance logs.
Innovation Solution
An ejection system is designed to remove the EDR from the vehicle in response to triggering events, such as impending crashes or extreme temperatures, using an ejection assembly and processor to ensure the EDR survives hostile environments and continues data recording.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If EDR is installed in vehicle to record data, then data can be captured for safety analysis, but EDR may be damaged by extreme temperatures and forces during crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The EDR unit is physically ejected from the vehicle using an ejection assembly that propels it outward through a ejection port. This extraction removes the EDR from the harmful environment (extreme temperatures and forces) while preserving the recorded data, directly resolving the contradiction between data survival and exposure to damaging conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects triggering events (crashes, extreme temperatures) and activates the ejection mechanism before the EDR is permanently damaged. This preliminary action of ejecting the EDR at the appropriate moment ensures data survival by removing it from harmful conditions before they can cause irreversible damage.
2Loss of information
If EDR remains in vehicle during crash, then it can continue recording, but it risks data loss from extreme conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is divided into separate functional components: a ejection assembly with propelling mechanism, a ejection port, and control systems. This segmentation allows the complex function of EDR protection to be achieved through coordinated simpler subsystems, managing overall system complexity while preventing data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the EDR and the external environment. It provides a controlled transition, moving the EDR from the harmful vehicle interior to a safer external location, thereby preventing data loss without requiring the EDR itself to withstand extreme conditions.
3Reliability
If ejection system activates during crash, then EDR is protected from damage, but activation timing must be precise to ensure data continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors for triggering events and is prepared to activate the ejection mechanism at the optimal moment. By detecting crashes or extreme temperature conditions and activating ejection promptly, the system ensures the EDR is removed from harmful conditions while maintaining data continuity, achieving reliable timing despite detection challenges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect triggering events (crashes, temperature extremes) and provides feedback to the control system, which then activates the ejection mechanism. This feedback loop ensures accurate timing by continuously monitoring conditions and responding when ejection is necessary, achieving reliable activation despite the difficulty of detecting and measuring triggering events.
Data Source
AI summary
An ejection system is provided that ejects an electronic data recorder (EDR) from a vehicle in response to a triggering event. The ejection system includes a housing that includes the EDR, wherein the EDR is configured to receive and store sensor data generated by the vehicle. The ejection system includes an ejection assembly configured to eject the housing from the vehicle when activated, and at least one processor disposed in the vehicle or the housing. The processor is configured to determine whether the triggering event has occurred and activate the ejection assembly to eject the housing from the vehicle in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred.