Autonomous Vehicle Stop-Hold Control Using Standstill Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current autonomous driving systems lack an effective method to maintain a vehicle in a stationary state after receiving a command to stop, leading to potential instability and inappropriate brake hold control.

Innovation Solution

The system sends a first command for deceleration and a second command to maintain stationary, using signals indicating longitudinal velocity and standstill status to ensure continuous deceleration until the vehicle is fully stopped, and then activates the electric parking brake for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the autonomous driving system continuously issues deceleration commands after the vehicle stops, then the vehicle can be maintained stationary, but unnecessary acceleration requests may occur causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestationary maintenance reliabilityVSAvoidvehicle control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous driving system monitors the standstill status signal from the vehicle platform to determine when the vehicle has fully stopped. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust its command strategy: continuing deceleration commands during the stopping process, then switching to stationary maintenance commands after stopping, thereby preventing unnecessary acceleration requests and ensuring stable stationary maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically transitions between two distinct control modes: deceleration mode (when the vehicle is moving) and stationary maintenance mode (when the vehicle has stopped). This dynamic adaptation of control strategy based on real-time vehicle state ensures optimal performance across different operating conditions while maintaining system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the autonomous driving system uses only deceleration commands to stop the vehicle, then the stopping function is simple, but the vehicle cannot be reliably maintained stationary after stopping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol command complexityVSAvoidstationary maintenance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control process is segmented into two distinct phases: the deceleration phase (using first commands) and the stationary maintenance phase (using second commands). This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently with appropriate control strategies, ensuring reliable stationary maintenance while keeping the overall system manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary deceleration actions using first commands to bring the vehicle to a stop, then transitions to stationary maintenance actions using second commands. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle is properly stopped before initiating the stationary maintenance protocol, thereby improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the vehicle platform responds to deceleration commands without considering standstill status, then the control response is fast, but brake hold control cannot be activated appropriately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol response speedVSAvoidbrake hold control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle platform continuously provides feedback on the standstill status signal to the autonomous driving system. This feedback enables the system to determine the appropriate moment to activate brake hold control, ensuring both rapid response and reliable activation under suitable conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for brake hold control activation by continuously monitoring the standstill status signal during the deceleration process. When the vehicle approaches complete stopping, the system is ready to activate brake hold control at the optimal moment, ensuring reliable stationary maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4397559A1Vehicle and autonomous driving system
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4397559A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4397559A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4397559A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle (1) comprises an autonomous driving system (200) and a vehicle platform (120) that controls the vehicle in response to a command received from the autonomous driving system. In the present vehicle, when the autonomous driving system issues a first command to request the vehicle platform to provide deceleration to stop the vehicle and a first signal indicates 0 km/h or a prescribed velocity or less, the autonomous driving system issues a second command to request the vehicle platform to maintain stationary. And after brake hold control is finished, a second signal indicates standstill. Until the second signal indicates standstill, the first command continues to request the vehicle platform to provide deceleration.