Vehicle Safe Stop Control for Autonomous Mode Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to ensure safe activation and deactivation of autonomous driving modes in vehicles to prevent unintentional movement during user interaction, particularly when transitioning to and from autonomous modes.
Innovation Solution
A control unit activates a safe stop mode that verifies safety conditions such as applied parking brake and neutral gear before engaging, and uses light signals to indicate safe stop mode status, allowing safe user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autonomous mode is activated to enable self-driving functions, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but safety risks increase due to potential unintentional movement during user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary safety verification by checking safety conditions (parking brake status, gear position, etc.) before allowing autonomous mode activation. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle is in a safe state before autonomous operations begin, preventing unintentional movement during user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the autonomous driving system and vehicle motion control. It receives activation requests, verifies safety conditions, and only permits autonomous mode when all conditions are met. This intermediary function provides a safety layer that prevents direct activation without proper verification.
2Reliability
If safe stop mode is activated to prevent autonomous driving, then safety is improved, but the vehicle cannot perform autonomous driving functions
Solution Approach 1:
The safe stop mode is implemented as a dynamic state that can be temporarily activated during user interaction and automatically deactivated when the user returns. The system monitors for user absence, activates safe stop mode during this period, and automatically restores autonomous driving capability when the user is detected to have returned, allowing the vehicle to adapt its operational state based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by activating safe stop mode to counteract potential harmful autonomous movements during user interaction. This preventive measure ensures the vehicle cannot move autonomously when the user is outside, and the automatic deactivation restores normal functionality when safe to do so.
3Loss of information
If light sources are triggered to indicate safe stop mode, then information communication is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color changes in light sources to communicate the safe stop mode status to the user. Different colors indicate different operational states (e.g., red for safe stop mode active, green for autonomous mode ready), providing clear visual feedback without requiring complex communication interfaces or additional user interaction elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a control unit for handling safe stop mode of a vehicle. The control unit obtains an activation request for activating the safe stop mode. When the activation request has been obtained, the control unit verifies that all safety conditions of the vehicle are fulfilled. The control unit activates the safe stop mode when the activation request has been obtained and when all safety conditions are fulfilled. The control unit triggers at least one light source to be turned on when all safety conditions are fulfilled. After the safe stop mode has been activated, the control unit obtains an inactivation request for inactivating the safe stop mode of the vehicle. The control unit inactivates the safe stop mode of the vehicle when the inactivation request has been obtained.