Automated Vehicle Route Guidance for Exceptional Traffic Situations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automated driving systems struggle to effectively manage exceptional traffic situations, such as obstacles blocking one-way streets, where driving on the sidewalk may be required, but is not allowed in normal automated mode.

Innovation Solution

A method where a vehicle operates in automated mode, detects exceptional traffic situations, and communicates with a network component via a mobile communication system to receive driving instructions, allowing for tele-operated or manual operation to navigate through the situation, with the option to store and reuse determined route sections for future instances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automated driving algorithms are used to manage exceptional traffic situations, then the system operates autonomously without human intervention, but the system cannot resolve situations requiring actions outside normal driving rules (e.g., driving on sidewalks)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous operationVSAvoidability to handle exceptional situations
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A network component acts as an intermediary between the automated vehicle and human operators. When the vehicle encounters an exceptional traffic situation it cannot resolve autonomously, the system transmits situation data to the network component, which coordinates with human operators to obtain resolution instructions, which are then transmitted back to the vehicle for execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system communicates with network components to resolve exceptional situations, then adaptability improves, but data transmission requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle exceptional situationsVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-transmits relevant situation data to the network component before requiring human operator intervention. This preliminary action includes sending information about the exceptional traffic situation, enabling the network component to prepare appropriate resolution instructions in advance, reducing overall communication latency and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and transmits only the essential data required for resolving exceptional situations to the network component, rather than transmitting all sensor data continuously. This selective data extraction reduces communication overhead and system complexity while maintaining the ability to handle exceptional situations effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If the system transmits detailed situation data to network components, then resolution accuracy improves, but data transmission volume and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation detection accuracyVSAvoidcommunication energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and transmits only the critical data elements necessary for resolving exceptional situations, such as location information, obstacle characteristics, and road configuration data, rather than transmitting complete sensor datasets. This selective extraction maintains situation detection accuracy while minimizing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If the system resolves each exceptional situation individually through network communication, then situation-specific accuracy improves, but response time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation resolution accuracyVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-transmits situation data to the network component to enable preparation of resolution instructions before full communication protocols are initiated. This preliminary action reduces the overall response time while maintaining accurate, situation-specific resolution through subsequent detailed communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3690852B1System, vehicle, network component, apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for a vehicle and a network component
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3690852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3690852B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3690852B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a system, a vehicle, a network component, apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for a vehicle and a network component. The method (10) for a vehicle (100) to determine a route section comprises operating (12) the vehicle (100) in an automated driving mode and determining (14) an exceptional traffic situation. The method (10) further comprises transmitting (16) information related to the exceptional traffic situation to a network component (200) using a mobile communication system (400) and receiving (18) information related to driving instructions for the route section to overcome the exceptional traffic situation from the network component (200).