Autonomous Vehicle Reachability Analysis for P2P Conflict Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for coordinating autonomous vehicle fleets lack efficient methods to prevent collisions and ensure smooth operation by directly communicating between vehicles without relying on a central computer system.

Innovation Solution

Perform reachability analysis in a central computer system to determine potential conflicts and initiate peer-to-peer (P2P) communication between autonomous vehicles to resolve conflicts independently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a central computer system performs all coordination and conflict resolution for autonomous vehicles, then centralized control and monitoring is improved, but communication latency and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coordination function by distinguishing between centralized reachability analysis (performed by the central computer system) and decentralized conflict resolution (performed by peer-to-peer communication between vehicles). This segmentation allows the central system to provide oversight while enabling direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication for time-critical conflict resolution, thereby reducing communication latency while maintaining coordination reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If peer-to-peer communication is implemented between autonomous vehicles, then communication efficiency is improved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the central computer system as an intermediary that performs reachability analysis and identifies potential conflicts between vehicles. This intermediary role simplifies the peer-to-peer communication system by pre-processing coordination information centrally, so that vehicles only need to exchange conflict resolution information directly without needing to perform complex coordination calculations themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If reachability analysis is performed centrally for all vehicles, then coordination accuracy is improved, but computational load and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereachability analysis accuracyVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by having the central computer system perform reachability analysis only to the extent necessary to identify potential conflicts, rather than continuously monitoring all vehicle interactions in detail. Once conflicts are identified, the actual resolution is handled locally through peer-to-peer communication, distributing the computational burden and reducing overall processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4672195A1Reachability analysis for coordinating autonomous vehicles
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 FMQ TECHNOLOGIES AB
  • EP4672195A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4672195A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4672195A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method performed by a central computer system (1), the method comprising obtaining state information for each of a plurality of clients (2) comprised in respective structural devices (3), at least one of said devices being an autonomous vehicle (4), including, from the respective client of each of said at least one autonomous vehicle, receiving real-time state information indicating a geographical position of the vehicle. The method also comprises, based on the obtained state information, performing reachability analysis to estimate likely future positions of the devices. The method also comprises, based on the performed reachability analysis, determining that a first one (4a) of the at least one autonomous vehicle, of a first one (2a) of the clients, risks a future conflict at the device of a second one (2b/2c) of the clients. The method also comprises, initiating direct P2P communication (7) between the first client and the second client.