Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Failure Detection via Inclination Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles face difficulties in determining sensor failures without using special inspection apparatuses, making it challenging to ensure safety when posture detection or inclination detection sensors become out of order.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating distance measurement means, inclination calculation means, posture calculation means, and failure determination means within the vehicle to compare calculated inclinations and detect sensor failures, allowing for safe operation without special inspection apparatuses, including control mechanisms to decelerate and stop the vehicle when failures are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If special inspection apparatus is used to determine sensor failures, then measurement precision of sensor status is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle uses its own existing sensors (distance measurement means and posture calculation means) to detect failures in its own sensor system. The failure determination means compares inclination data from both sources to self-diagnose sensor malfunctions, eliminating the need for external inspection apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The distance measurement means and posture calculation means, originally designed for navigation and obstacle detection, are also utilized for failure detection purposes. This multi-functional use of existing components avoids adding dedicated inspection equipment.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are added for failure detection, then reliability of failure determination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing sensors (distance measurement means for obstacle detection and posture calculation means with angular speed/acceleration sensors for navigation) for the additional function of failure detection. No dedicated failure detection sensors are added.
Solution Approach 2:
The failure determination means continuously compares inclination data from the distance measurement means with data from the posture calculation means. This feedback mechanism enables real-time failure detection without adding hardware, by monitoring consistency between redundant measurement sources.
3Measurement precision
If special inspection apparatus is used to determine sensor failures, then measurement precision of sensor status is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs self-diagnosis using its own existing sensor system, eliminating the need for expensive external inspection apparatus. The failure determination is achieved through software-based comparison of data from existing sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model of vehicle inclination through calculation based on distance measurements, and compares it with physical sensor readings. This computational approach replaces the need for physical inspection equipment.
4Measurement precision
If distance measurement means is disposed in direction oblique to road surface, then measurement precision of obstacle distance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distance measurement means is positioned at a specific location on the vehicle body and oriented at a specific oblique angle to detect obstacles in particular directions. This localized, directional placement optimizes obstacle detection capability without requiring a complex array of sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one distance measurement means for measuring a distance to a road surface disposed in a vehicle main body, inclination calculation means for calculating an inclination of the vehicle main body based on the distance measured by the distance measurement means, posture calculation means including a sensor that detects at least one of an angular speed and an acceleration of the vehicle main body, the posture calculation means being configured to calculate the inclination of the vehicle main body based on a sensor value detected by the sensor, and failure determination means for determining a failure in each distance measurement means and the posture calculation means by comparing the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the inclination calculation means with the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the posture calculation means.