Automated Vehicle Map Validity Assessment and Fallback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The safe and reliable operation of automated vehicles depends on precise localization and knowledge of their surroundings, which is often reliant on a valid planning map. However, if the planning map is invalid, existing systems lack a reliable method to ensure safe operation, particularly in dynamic environments with varying infrastructure and interactions with other vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the position of the automated vehicle, detecting surroundings features, reading a planning map, assessing its validity based on these features, and operating the vehicle accordingly. If the map is invalid, a second driving function is determined independently of the map, allowing safe operation through features like infrastructure or operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the automated vehicle operates based on a planning map, then the driving function can be determined with predefined routes and paths, but the system becomes vulnerable to map invalidity and lacks adaptability to dynamic environmental changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously compares detected surroundings features with corresponding features in the planning map to verify map validity. This feedback mechanism detects discrepancies between expected map data and actual sensor observations, allowing the system to identify when the planning map is no longer valid and switch to alternative operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its operating mode based on map validity assessment. When the planning map is valid, the vehicle operates using predefined driving functions from the map. When invalidity is detected, the system transitions to determining driving functions independently of the planning map, enabling adaptive response to changing environmental conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system operates independently when the planning map is invalid, then adaptability to dynamic environments improves, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct operational modes: map-dependent operation and map-independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to use the simpler planning map-based approach when valid, while having the capability to switch to more complex independent operation only when necessary, thereby managing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to perform both map-dependent driving function determination and map-independent driving function determination. This universal design allows a single system to handle multiple operating conditions without requiring entirely separate systems for each mode.
3Reliability
If the system continuously validates the planning map against surroundings features, then safety and reliability improve, but the computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial validation by comparing specific surroundings features with corresponding map data rather than continuously validating all map elements. This selective comparison approach maintains safety through regular validation while reducing unnecessary computational overhead from validating every possible feature continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for operating an automated vehicle, including: determining a position of the automated vehicle, detecting at least one surroundings feature in the surroundings of the automated vehicle, reading in a planning map depending on the position of the automated vehicle, the planning map being configured for determining a first driving function for operating the automated vehicle, determining a validity of the planning map depending on the position of the automated vehicle depending on the at least one surroundings feature, and operating the automated vehicle depending on the validity of the planning map.