Vehicle Sensor Replay Control for Autonomous Reversing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control methods for autonomously or partially autonomously driving vehicles require additional sensors for localization, which is costly and inefficient, and do not effectively handle reversing maneuvers in tight spaces.

Innovation Solution

A control method that utilizes existing vehicle sensors to store and replicate manually controlled movement sequences for autonomous operation, allowing the vehicle to navigate and reverse without human intervention, using arithmetic mean deviation to match recorded sensor data with stored data, and includes an adaptation function for the lifting device to prevent re-picking up loads during reverse sequences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional sensors are installed for vehicle localization in autonomous control, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle localization precisionVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing vehicle sensors perform dual functions: their primary function for vehicle operation and an additional function for localization during autonomous control. This eliminates the need for separate localization sensors while maintaining measurement precision through multi-purpose utilization of available sensor data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle uses its own existing sensors to provide localization information needed for autonomous control, rather than relying on external infrastructure or additional dedicated sensors. The vehicle's sensor system serves itself for both operational control and positional awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual control learning is performed to create reference data, then adaptability to specific routes is improved, but loss of time during the learning phase increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroute-specific adaptabilityVSAvoidlearning phase duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary manual driving to record reference sensor data and create a digital model of the route characteristics before autonomous operation begins. This preparatory phase captures environmental and route-specific information that enables subsequent autonomous navigation without requiring real-time manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the manual driving experience by recording sensor data during manual operation. This reference data copy is then used during autonomous control to guide vehicle behavior, eliminating the need to repeatedly perform manual learning for the same route.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3913455B1Control of a vehicle via reference sensor data
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3913455B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913455B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a control method for a vehicle (101); wherein the vehicle (101) is manually controlled while sensor data from at least one sensor of the vehicle (101) are stored. The vehicle (101) is controlled autonomously while sensor data from the at least one sensor is acquired and compared with the stored sensor data.