Autonomous vehicle with independent auxiliary control units
First Claim
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1. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
- a first set of vehicle sensors that monitor an environment outside the autonomous vehicle;
a second set of vehicle sensors, separate from the first set of vehicle sensors, that monitor the environment outside the autonomous vehicle;
a primary control system to control the autonomous vehicle, including to (i) receive first sensor input from the first set of vehicle sensors, (ii) determine, from the first sensor input, a vehicle action or vehicle state, and (iii) signal, to a corresponding vehicle interface, one or more control parameters corresponding to the determined vehicle action or vehicle state; and
an auxiliary control unit, operating independently of the primary control system, to (i) receive second sensor input from the second set of vehicle sensors, (ii) receive trajectory data from the primary control system for a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, (iii) detect a predefined condition or event from the second sensor input, and (iv) in response to detecting the predefined condition or event, generate a vehicle response output to override the one or more control parameters from the primary control system based at least in part on the second sensor input and the trajectory data.
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Abstract
An autonomous vehicle which includes multiple independent control systems that provide redundancy as to specific and critical safety situations which may be encountered when the autonomous vehicle is in operation.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An autonomous vehicle comprising:
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a first set of vehicle sensors that monitor an environment outside the autonomous vehicle; a second set of vehicle sensors, separate from the first set of vehicle sensors, that monitor the environment outside the autonomous vehicle; a primary control system to control the autonomous vehicle, including to (i) receive first sensor input from the first set of vehicle sensors, (ii) determine, from the first sensor input, a vehicle action or vehicle state, and (iii) signal, to a corresponding vehicle interface, one or more control parameters corresponding to the determined vehicle action or vehicle state; and an auxiliary control unit, operating independently of the primary control system, to (i) receive second sensor input from the second set of vehicle sensors, (ii) receive trajectory data from the primary control system for a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, (iii) detect a predefined condition or event from the second sensor input, and (iv) in response to detecting the predefined condition or event, generate a vehicle response output to override the one or more control parameters from the primary control system based at least in part on the second sensor input and the trajectory data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:
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autonomously controlling a vehicle in operation using a primary control system coupled to a first set of vehicle sensors that monitor an environment outside the autonomous vehicle; operating an auxiliary control unit, coupled to a second set of vehicle sensors, separate from the first set of vehicle sensors, that monitor the environment outside the autonomous vehicle, to monitor for and detect a predefined condition or event, the auxiliary control unit being independent of the primary control system; receiving, by the auxiliary control unit, trajectory data from the primary control system for a planned trajectory of the vehicle; and generating, using the auxiliary control unit, a vehicle response output that overrides vehicle control parameters from the primary control system based on the detected predefined condition or event, sensor data from the second set of vehicle sensors, and the trajectory data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A control system for an autonomous vehicle, the control system comprising:
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a primary control system to control the autonomous vehicle, including to (i) receive first sensor input from a first set of vehicle sensors that monitor an environment outside the autonomous vehicle, (ii) determine, from the first sensor input, a vehicle action or vehicle state, and (iii) signal, to a corresponding vehicle interface, one or more control parameters corresponding to the determined vehicle action or vehicle state; and an auxiliary control unit, operating independently of the primary control system, to (i) receive second sensor input from a second set of vehicle sensors, separate from the first set of vehicle sensors, that monitor the environment outside the autonomous vehicle, (ii) receive trajectory data from the primary control system for a planned trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, (iii) detect a predefined condition or event from the second sensor input, and (iv) in response to detecting the predefined condition or event, generate a vehicle response output to override the one or more control parameters from the primary control system based at least in part on the second sensor input and the trajectory data.
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Specification