Autonomous Vehicle Maneuvers for Pedestrian Collision Avoidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating non-communication-capable road users, such as cyclists or pedestrians, into cooperative driving maneuvers is challenging, as they cannot participate in vehicle-to-vehicle communication, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A device and system that utilize environmental sensors to detect imminent collisions between two road users, plan and execute a driving maneuver to provide an evasive opportunity for the involved road users without requiring direct communication, using AI and sensor data to determine collision probability and plan evasive maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle-to-vehicle communication is used for cooperative driving maneuvers, then accident prevention between communicating vehicles is improved, but non-communication-capable road users (cyclists, pedestrians, older vehicles) cannot be integrated into the decision-making process
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle acts as an intermediary by using its sensors to detect and monitor non-communication-capable road users, and its control system to execute protective maneuvers. The vehicle mediates between potential collision risks and safety actions without requiring direct communication with all road users, thus extending protection to those who cannot communicate.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous vehicle's system performs multiple functions: it communicates with other vehicles when possible, senses and detects non-communication-capable road users, evaluates collision risks, and executes protective maneuvers. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle diverse road users with different communication capabilities within a single integrated framework.
2Reliability
If the autonomous vehicle executes protective maneuvers proactively, then safety of other road users is improved, but the autonomous vehicle may interfere with the normal flow of traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively executing protective maneuvers before collisions occur. The autonomous vehicle detects potential collision risks with non-communication-capable road users and takes preventive actions (such as slowing down or changing position) in advance, thereby preventing accidents while managing traffic flow through early intervention rather than reactive measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its protective maneuvers based on real-time sensor data and evaluated collision risks. Rather than applying fixed, rigid maneuvers, the autonomous vehicle adapts its actions (speed, position, timing) to the specific situation, balancing safety requirements with minimal disruption to traffic flow through flexible, context-dependent responses.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for initiating a driving manoeuvre, comprising: an input interface for receiving environmental sensor data comprising information on a first road user and a second road user in the environment of an autonomous or semi-autonomous host vehicle and comprising information on objects in the environment of the host vehicle; an evaluation unit for determining whether a collision between the first road user and the second road user is imminent, on the basis of the environmental sensor data; a planning unit for planning a driving manoeuvre of the host vehicle on the basis of the environmental sensor data if a collision is imminent, wherein the driving manoeuvre creates an avoidance possibility for the first road user and/or second road user in order to prevent the collision; and, an output unit for outputting the driving manoeuvre to a vehicle control unit of the host vehicle. The present invention also relates to a system and to a method.