Autonomous Vehicle Force-Type Control for Safe Continuous Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

In autonomous production methods, vehicles face external forces both from riding on external objects and from assembly work, requiring appropriate control to manage these forces effectively without halting the production process.

Innovation Solution

A control device for vehicles, comprising an external force information acquisition unit, an external force determination unit, and a traveling control signal generation unit, which acquires, determines, and generates signals to manage vehicle operations based on the type of external force encountered.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle is caused to stop or retreat when external force is detected, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the production efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the control parameters based on the type of external force detected. When assembly work external force is detected, the vehicle continues moving without stopping. When step riding external force is detected, the vehicle stops or retreats. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing continuous production for assembly forces while maintaining safety for step riding forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the vehicle operation based on real-time external force detection. The vehicle operation is not fixed but changes according to the detected external force type, enabling the system to optimize between safety and productivity based on current conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the vehicle operation is simply stopped or retreated when external force acts on the vehicle, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the work continuity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidwork continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational response parameters based on the external force type. For assembly work external forces, the vehicle maintains continuous movement (no stop/retreat). For step riding external forces, the vehicle stops or retreats. This resolves the contradiction between safety and work continuity by adapting the response to the specific force type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the vehicle continues to move when external force is detected, then the production efficiency is maintained, but the vehicle safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system adjusts the vehicle operation parameters based on the detected external force type. When assembly work external force is detected, the vehicle continues moving to maintain productivity. When step riding external force is detected, the vehicle stops or retreats to ensure safety. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4524676A1Control device for vehicle and control method for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.03.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4524676A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4524676A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4524676A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A control device (110; 200) for a vehicle includes an external force information acquisition unit (163; 213) configured to acquire external force information on external force acting on a vehicle that is an autonomous vehicle, an external force determination unit (164; 214) configured to determine a kind of the external force by using the external force information, and a traveling control signal generation unit (165; 215) configured to generate a traveling control signal for the vehicle in accordance with the kind of the external force.