Autonomous Vehicle Side-Following Control via Operator Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic control systems for autonomous vehicles lack high-bandwidth communication capabilities, sufficient processing power for autonomous behaviors, and integrated safety management, limiting their ability for autonomous operation and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A versatile robotic control module that utilizes a plurality of sensors to maintain an operator at the side of the vehicle, enabling various modes of operation such as side-following, teleoperation, and path mapping, with integrated sensor systems for obstacle detection and avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If completely automated equipment is used to replace operator-controlled equipment, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but reliability decreases due to system complexity and uncertainty in operating environments
Solution Approach 1:
A safety operator serves as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle system and the external environment. The operator monitors system status, verifies autonomous decisions, and can intervene when necessary, bridging the gap between automated operation and human judgment to maintain reliability while preserving productivity benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial automation rather than complete autonomy, with the operator providing supervisory control for critical functions. This partial automation approach maintains high productivity for routine operations while allowing human intervention to ensure reliability in complex or uncertain situations
2Reliability
If semi-automated equipment with human supervision is used, then reliability is improved through operator oversight, but productivity decreases due to limited automation capability
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system performs self-service for routine monitoring and control functions, automatically navigating and operating without continuous human input. This enables high productivity while the operator provides periodic verification rather than constant supervision, maintaining reliability without sacrificing automation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops for monitoring system status, sensor data, and operational parameters. This automated feedback maintains reliability by continuously verifying safe operation while freeing the operator from constant monitoring, thereby improving productivity through reduced manual intervention
3Extent of automation
If high-bandwidth communication and sufficient processing power are added to robotic control systems, then autonomous operation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular functional units, with processing power and communication capabilities distributed across separate modules. This segmentation enables high autonomous operation capability through specialized processing while managing complexity by organizing functions into independent, manageable units that can be developed and maintained separately
Data Source
AI summary
The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle. Movement of an operator located at a side of the vehicle is identified with a plurality of sensors located in the vehicle and the vehicle is moved in a path that maintains the operator at the side of the vehicle while the operator is moving.