Automated Driving Vehicle Readiness Checks Using Sensor-Actuator Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated driving vehicles require extensive and costly pre-drive checks, which are inefficient and burdensome for users, and existing methods do not adequately ensure the vehicle's readiness for autonomous operation.
Innovation Solution
An automated method utilizing predefined combinations of a sensor system and actuator system to conduct checks before and during driving, verifying successful past checks and enabling operation only when both conditions are met, with incremental confidence levels and adaptive check routes to optimize efficiency and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive pre-drive checks are conducted manually by the user, then vehicle safety and readiness are ensured, but user effort and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system performs self-checks using its own sensor systems and actuators to verify its operational status before automated driving. The control device automatically evaluates sensor data, checks system functionalities, and determines readiness without requiring manual user inspection, thereby ensuring vehicle reliability while eliminating time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical inspection by the user is replaced by an automated electronic check system. The control device uses sensor systems (cameras, microphones, temperature sensors) and actuators to automatically verify vehicle components and systems, substituting human effort with automated technological means to reduce time consumption while maintaining thoroughness.
2Reliability
If comprehensive automated checks are performed, then vehicle safety is improved, but system complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Existing multi-functional sensor systems and actuators of the automated driving vehicle are utilized for check purposes. The same cameras, microphones, temperature sensors, and other components used during automated driving are also employed to verify vehicle readiness, avoiding the need for dedicated check-specific equipment and thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously receives feedback from sensor systems during the check process and automatically adjusts the verification based on detected conditions. If certain systems are confirmed operational, redundant checks can be reduced; if issues are detected, the system automatically initiates additional verification steps, optimizing the check process complexity dynamically.
3Reliability
If frequent cyclic checks are conducted, then operational reliability is maintained, but energy consumption and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs cyclic checks at predetermined intervals or under specific trigger conditions (e.g., after certain time periods, after specific operational events, or when transitioning between driving modes). This periodic verification maintains operational reliability by detecting issues at appropriate intervals while minimizing energy consumption compared to continuous checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The check frequency and scope are dynamically adjusted based on operational parameters such as driving conditions, system status, environmental factors, and historical data. When systems are stable and conditions are favorable, check frequency is reduced to save energy; when anomalies are detected or conditions change, the system automatically increases verification intensity, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies and techniques for verifying the operational readiness of an automated driving vehicle before initiating a drive is disclosed. The method involves performing a predefined set of automated checks each time the vehicle is started. These checks are executed using predefined combinations of the vehicle's sensor system and actuator system. Additionally, the method includes verifying that cyclic checks conducted under predefined conditions in the past were completed successfully with sufficient frequency. The drive is enabled if both the startup checks and the past cyclic checks meet the required criteria. Aspects of the present disclosure also pertains to the automated driving vehicle itself.