Autonomous Vehicle Fire Detection and External Alerting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack the capability to detect and report fire-related conditions effectively, which can compromise safety and hinder safe operation, and they do not transmit alerts to external receivers.
Innovation Solution
A fire detection system with outward-facing sensors and a processing system that identifies fire-indicative conditions, generates a fire detection signal, and transmits it to an external receiver, while also controlling vehicle movement to avoid hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles implement basic perception, localization, behaviors and planning technologies, then they can navigate and operate autonomously, but they lack the capability to detect and report fire-related conditions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle's sensor system is extended to perform multiple functions: standard navigation and obstacle detection, plus fire-specific detection of smoke, heat, and flames. The existing sensor infrastructure is repurposed to serve both general autonomous operation and specialized fire detection needs, allowing the vehicle to adapt to hazardous conditions while maintaining its core navigation capabilities
2Loss of information
If autonomous vehicles detect fire-related conditions, then they can identify hazards, but they are unable to transmit alerts to external receivers or notify local authorities
Solution Approach 1:
An external receiver system acts as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle's fire detection system and local authorities. The vehicle transmits fire condition data to the external receiver, which then processes and relays alerts to appropriate emergency services, bridging the gap between vehicle-based detection and external response systems
3Reliability
If autonomous vehicles lack fire detection and reporting capabilities, then the system remains simple, but safety is compromised and operational efficiency is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The fire detection system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensor array for detecting smoke and heat, processing unit for analyzing sensor data, communication module for transmitting alerts, and navigation control for avoiding hazards. This modular segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive fire detection and response capabilities while maintaining manageable complexity through organized, independent components
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting and reporting fires by an autonomous vehicle. The method includes receiving, from one or more sensors, at least one sensor signal representing one or more fire-related conditions surrounding the autonomous vehicle, and identifying one or more fire-indicative conditions surrounding the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more fire-related conditions. The method also includes generating a fire detection signal based at least on the one or more fire-indicative conditions, a location of the one or more fire-indicative conditions, and a location of the autonomous vehicle, and transmitting the fire detection signal to an external receiver.