Vehicle Sensor Control Based on Stopping Distance and Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle systems consume large amounts of power due to unnecessary sensor operations, leading to range degradation in battery-driven electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A control system manages vehicle sensors by deactivating short-range sensors during high-speed operations when detection ranges are shorter than the stopping distance and prioritizes long-range sensors, reallocating computing resources for higher priority tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all vehicle sensors are operated continuously to ensure comprehensive environmental detection, then detection coverage and reliability are improved, but power consumption increases and driving range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor operation states based on real-time vehicle conditions (speed, acceleration) and environmental factors. At high speeds where short-range sensors cannot contribute to safe stopping, these sensors are deactivated. At lower speeds where short-range detection is critical for safe operation, sensors are activated. This dynamic state adjustment resolves the contradiction by making detection coverage adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of sensors based on vehicle state. When vehicle speed exceeds a threshold where stopping distance exceeds short-range sensor detection capability, the system changes the operational parameter of short-range sensors from active to inactive state. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by aligning sensor operation with actual operational needs at different speed regimes.
2Reliability
If short-range sensors are operated at high speeds, then near-object detection capability is maintained, but power is wasted since detection range is shorter than stopping distance
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the operation of short-range sensors from the active sensor set when vehicle speed indicates they cannot contribute to safe stopping (i.e., when stopping distance exceeds detection range). This extraction eliminates the wasted energy consumption of short-range sensors during high-speed operation where their detection capability is insufficient for safety requirements.
3Productivity
If computing resources are allocated to all sensors equally, then processing completeness is maintained, but system efficiency decreases and response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different resource allocation quality to different sensors based on their current operational importance. When short-range sensors are deactivated due to high-speed conditions, computing resources are reallocated from processing their data to other active sensors and tasks. This local quality adjustment in resource allocation improves overall system efficiency and response time by focusing computational effort where it is actually needed.
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.