Autonomous Vehicle Stop Signal Verification Under Network Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for controlling autonomous vehicles lack reliability in transmitting stop instructions during communication network failures, making it difficult to ensure the vehicles can be safely stopped when necessary.

Innovation Solution

A device on board the autonomous vehicle generates a movement limitation signal through iterative key transformations and comparisons, ensuring the automatic pilot device can constrain or authorize movement based on response signals from the control center, even in faulty communication conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control center transmits stop instructions through the communication network, then the ability to control vehicle stopping is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when communication network failures occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of stop instruction transmissionVSAvoidcomplexity of communication and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs self-verification of stop instructions by comparing received instructions with independently calculated expected instructions based on pre-stored transfer functions. The vehicle's control unit acts as both receiver and verifier, eliminating the need for additional redundant communication channels while ensuring reliable stop command execution even when communication network reliability is compromised.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the vehicle calculates expected stop instructions using pre-stored transfer functions and compares them with actually received stop instructions. This closed-loop verification provides continuous feedback on the integrity of communication, allowing the vehicle to detect and respond to communication failures or tampering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system uses pre-stored transfer functions for verifying stop instructions, then the reliability of stop instruction processing is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional storage and calculation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of stop instruction processingVSAvoidamount of stored transfer functions and calculation resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores transfer functions in a compact parametric form rather than full lookup tables. By representing transfer functions through key parameters and mathematical relationships, the system reduces storage requirements while maintaining the ability to generate expected stop instructions for verification purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Transfer functions are pre-stored in the vehicle's control unit during manufacturing or initial setup, eliminating the need for real-time computation of these functions during operation. This preliminary preparation allows the vehicle to quickly verify stop instructions by simple comparison rather than complex real-time calculation, reducing both computational load and response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4253183A1Device for generating a signal for limiting the movement of an autonomous motor vehicle, associated control system, assembly and method
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 TRANSDEV GRP INNOVATION
  • EP4253183A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4253183A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4253183A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A device for generating a movement limitation signal (MA) for an autonomous motor vehicle (8) equipped with an autopilot device (22) adapted to pilot the autonomous vehicle (8), the autonomous vehicle (8) belonging to a fleet of autonomous vehicles (8) whose movements are supervised by a control center (2), via a communication network (4), the generation device (20) being intended to be carried on board the autonomous motor vehicle (8), the generation device (20) operating by successive iterations, and the generation device (20) comprising: - a means for generating keys adapted to generate a specific key; - a communication unit (26) configured to emit a first signal (S1), and receive a response signal (S2).