Vehicle Sensor Management for High-Speed Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face power consumption issues due to unnecessary sensor operations, particularly with short-range sensors, which degrade battery range and energy efficiency during high-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
A control system manages sensor operations by deactivating short-range sensors when detection ranges are shorter than the vehicle's stopping distance and prioritizes long-range sensors, reallocating computing resources for high-priority tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If short-range sensors are activated during high-speed operations, then detection coverage is improved, but power consumption increases and battery range degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor operations based on vehicle speed and detection requirements. During high-speed operations, short-range sensor operations are deactivated or reduced, while long-range sensors maintain full operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making sensor activation conditional rather than static, ensuring detection coverage matches actual operational needs without unnecessary power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different operational qualities to different sensor types based on their detection ranges. Long-range sensors operate at full capacity during high-speed operations, while short-range sensors are deactivated or operated at reduced capacity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each sensor's power consumption according to its specific detection capabilities and the operational context.
2Reliability
If all sensors operate continuously, then comprehensive environmental detection is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by selectively activating only the necessary sensor operations based on vehicle speed and detection requirements. During high-speed operations, short-range sensor operations are partially or fully deactivated since their detection ranges are insufficient for safe stopping distances. This partial activation strategy maintains adequate environmental detection while significantly improving energy efficiency by eliminating unnecessary sensor operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor operational status based on real-time vehicle conditions. The control system monitors vehicle speed, detection ranges, and stopping distances to determine which sensors should be active. This dynamic approach ensures comprehensive detection when needed while minimizing energy loss during high-speed operations where short-range sensors are less critical.
3Use of energy by moving object
If short-range sensors are deactivated during high-speed operations, then power usage is reduced, but detection capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses long-range sensors as intermediaries to compensate for the deactivation of short-range sensors during high-speed operations. Since long-range sensors have detection ranges that exceed the vehicle's stopping distance at high speeds, they serve as effective mediators for environmental detection. This intermediary approach maintains detection capability while enabling power reduction through short-range sensor deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of different sensor types based on vehicle speed. During high-speed operations, the detection range parameter becomes the critical factor, and since long-range sensors provide sufficient coverage beyond stopping distances, short-range sensors can be deactivated. This parameter-based decision-making ensures detection capability is maintained through appropriate sensor selection while reducing overall power usage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods for managing vehicle sensors, which can include: determining a stopping distance for a vehicle travelling on a route, identifying one or more sensors of the vehicle that have respective detection ranges less than the stopping distance, and upon identifying the one or more sensors, deactivating at least one operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.