Autonomous Vehicle Messaging for Remote Intervention Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

In teleoperation situations, autonomous vehicles may slow down or stop without clear communication to occupants or external parties, causing uncertainty about the vehicle's operational status.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle notification system that uses a messaging system to provide visual and audio updates to occupants and external parties about the vehicle's status, including when assistance from a remote manager is requested or provided, and the resolution of obstacles, ensuring transparency and reducing uncertainty.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the autonomous vehicle awaits remote manager intervention, then the vehicle can receive assistance for navigating obstacles, but the vehicle slows down or stops causing uncertainty to occupants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle operational reliabilityVSAvoidoccupant awareness of vehicle status
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by providing continuous status updates to occupants through the messaging system. When the autonomous vehicle awaits remote manager intervention, the messaging system communicates the vehicle's status, the reason for slowing down or stopping, and the expected duration of the delay, thereby eliminating occupant uncertainty while maintaining reliable obstacle navigation assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The messaging system acts as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle's control system and the occupants. It translates complex operational status information into clear, understandable messages that inform occupants about the vehicle's state during remote manager intervention, bridging the information gap without compromising the reliability of the teleoperation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If the autonomous vehicle operates autonomously without drivers, then automation level is high, but communication with remote managers requires additional system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous vehicle operationVSAvoidteleoperation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The messaging system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it communicates with occupants during autonomous operation, transmits vehicle status to remote managers, provides feedback during teleoperation, and maintains system logs. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated communication systems, thereby managing complexity while supporting high automation levels with effective remote manager integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3665564B1Autonomous vehicle notification system and method
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC
  • EP3665564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3665564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3665564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An autonomous vehicle notification system comprises a sensor onboard the autonomous vehicle, a messaging system onboard the autonomous vehicle, and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a condition external to the autonomous vehicle. The controller is configured to control communication with a remote manager to enable the remote manager to control the autonomous vehicle based on the condition, and is configured to control the messaging system to provide a message at the autonomous vehicle pertaining to the control by the remote manger.