Vehicle Intelligence Unit for Adaptive Autonomy Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of Connected Automated Vehicles (CAV) is limited by high costs and technological complexities associated with numerous sensors and computational devices, and inadequate functional capabilities for addressing long-tail complex driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A Vehicle Intelligent Unit (VIU) is introduced to provide an interface with a Collaborative Automated Driving System (CADS), managing information exchange between vehicles and infrastructure, enhancing sensing, prediction, planning, and control functions, and supporting vehicles with different intelligence levels and brands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If numerous sensors and computational devices are provided on CAV to improve automated driving functions, then the functional capabilities are improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Roadside Intelligent Unit (RIU) as an intermediary component that provides automated driving functions externally. The RIU acts as a mediator between the vehicle's basic control system and the complex automated driving tasks, allowing vehicles to access advanced driving capabilities without carrying numerous sensors and computational devices onboard. This resolves the contradiction by externalizing the complexity to infrastructure while maintaining functional capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous sensors and computational devices are provided on CAV to improve automated driving functions, then the functional capabilities are improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The RIU serves as a cost-effective intermediary that provides automated driving functions through infrastructure rather than requiring expensive onboard equipment in each vehicle. The patent describes how the RIU can be deployed in specific locations to provide automated driving services, reducing the per-vehicle cost while maintaining functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The RIU is designed as a universal infrastructure component that can serve multiple vehicles and provide various automated driving functions. By creating a multi-functional roadside unit that can assist different vehicle types and brands, the system achieves economies of scale, reducing overall costs while maintaining versatile automated driving capabilities.
3Reliability
If a vehicle-specific automated driving system is implemented to improve functional capabilities for complex scenarios, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RIU acts as a reliable intermediary that handles complex automated driving computations externally. The patent describes how the RIU receives vehicle state information, performs automated driving calculations, and returns control instructions, thereby providing reliable automated driving functionality without requiring complex onboard systems in each vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is technology relating to automated driving and particularly, but not exclusively, to a modular Vehicle Intelligence Unit (VIU) comprising a sensing and perception fusion module, a collaborative decision-making module, and an intelligent control/assistance module. The VIU is designed to dynamically upgrade or adaptively restore autonomous driving levels based on vehicle conditions and driving conditions. The VIU enables progressive autonomy restoration or elevation from Level 1 to Level 2, 3, 4, or 5; from Level 2 to Level 3, 4, or 5; or from Level 3 to Level 4 or 5. The system features a dynamic recovery mechanism for downgraded systems. When adverse conditions trigger temporary downgrades (e.g., from Level 4 to Level 2), the VIU autonomously restores the original autonomy level through multi-module coordination and improvement. The adaptive algorithms ensure safe transitions and continuous optimization across autonomy levels, maintaining operational reliability under dynamic vehicle and driving conditions.