Vehicle Intent Communication System for Maneuver Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems lack effective communication mechanisms to share impending vehicle maneuvers with nearby vehicles, which can lead to conflicts or inefficiencies in traffic management, especially between autonomous and human-driven vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An intent communication system that includes sensors (LiDAR, radar, and computer vision) in both host and receiving vehicles, with a controller-circuit and broadcast device to detect and broadcast impending maneuvers, allowing reactive maneuvers and notifications between vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous vehicles operate independently without communication mechanisms, then each vehicle can maintain its own autonomous operation, but conflicts and inefficiencies occur in traffic management between autonomous and human-driven vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary between autonomous vehicles and human-driven vehicles. The broadcast device transmits maneuver intent information from the autonomous vehicle to surrounding vehicles, while the receiver captures this information. This intermediary communication mechanism enables information exchange without requiring direct interaction between vehicle control systems, thereby improving traffic management safety while preventing loss of maneuver intent information.
2Productivity
If vehicles broadcast and react to impending maneuvers in real-time, then traffic flow and safety improve through coordinated responses, but system complexity increases due to multiple sensors and communication devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into separate functional modules: a broadcast device in the autonomous vehicle for transmitting maneuver intent information, and a receiver in surrounding vehicles for capturing this information. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling real-time communication that improves traffic flow efficiency through coordinated vehicle responses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient vehicle interactions by allowing autonomous vehicles to communicate and coordinate maneuvers with nearby vehicles, improving traffic flow and safety by enabling proactive responses to impending actions like lane changes, braking, or turning.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more sensors include one or more of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a radar, and a computer vision system.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more sensors include one or more of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a radar, and a computer vision system.
Data Source
AI summary
An intent communication system includes one or more sensors, a controller-circuit, and a broadcast device. The sensors may include one or more of a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a radar, and a computer vision system. The controller-circuit is disposed in a host vehicle. The controller-circuit is configured to determine, based one or more signals from the one or more sensors, an impending vehicle maneuver. The broadcast device is located in the host vehicle, and is configured to broadcast a broadcast signal containing information directed to the impending vehicle maneuver to at least one vehicle determined to be in a vicinity of the impending vehicle maneuver.