Apollo Autonomous Driving USA LLC

Baidu USA LLC

Baoping Yuan

Yaoming Shen

Tianjia Sun

Yun Zhao

This disclosure provides systems and methods for deceleration control during emergency braking using control algorithm override. An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method for deceleration by a controlling device of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). The method includes engaging a braking system of the ADV to decelerate the ADV using a first deceleration algorithm. When an onset of discrepancy between a velocity of the ADV and a corresponding wheel speed of the ADV is detected, a processing device, based on the discrepancy, overrides an output of the first deceleration algorithm using a second deceleration algorithm that prioritizes in reducing the discrepancy between the velocity of the ADV and the corresponding wheel speed of the ADV over a target rate of deceleration computed by the first deceleration algorithm.

Skid avoidance during emergency braking with control algorithm override for autonomous or assisted driving vehicles

Embodiments herein relate to robust methodologies for autonomous parking. In one or more embodiments, an autonomous vehicle may determine the slope of a road based upon one or more inputs and a pre-defined slope definition and may also determine curb/no curb status of a parking location. Given the determined road conditions, such as slope and no curb/curb, embodiments determine wheel direction and angle that the vehicle should achieve to properly park. Embodiments also include countermeasures if one or more issues prohibit the vehicle from achieving a desired parking condition.

Automated vehicle parking

Embodiments herein comprise monitoring factors related to braking of an autonomous vehicle. In response to determining, based upon data from one or more sensors, whether a failure state from a set of one or more failure states has occurred, a failure log is updated to record the occurrence of the detected failure state. In one or more embodiments, the failure states have associated severity levels, and the updated log and associated severities are used to determine a braking safety or failure metric for the vehicle. In one or more embodiments, if the vehicle has a metric corresponding to a rule that correlates the braking safety metric value to a set of one or more actions, the corresponding action(s) may then be implemented. For example, if the braking safety metric has a value corresponding to a rule that indicates the vehicle is unsafe, the vehicle is parked.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a vehicle with redundant braking systems

Data is received from a plurality of sensors mounted on an ADV being held to a standstill. A status of the ADV including a rolling speed of the ADV is detected based on the data from the plurality of sensors. One of a primary brake or a secondary brake is activated, in response to detecting the status of the ADV being a first status including the rolling speed being higher than zero and lower than a first predetermined speed threshold. An electronic parking brake is activated, in response to detecting the status of the ADV being a second status including the rolling speed being higher than the first predetermined speed threshold and lower than a second predetermined speed threshold. An engine brake may be used to reduce the crash damage, and a warning message (e.g., Message-4) may be generated.

Autonomous driving vehicle redundant holding control to prevent rolling

This disclosure provides systems and methods for providing a failsafe braking system to independently backup various braking controls, such as longitudinal control, stability control, and standstill control. For example, in addition to providing the longitudinal control, the stability control, and the standstill control in a primary braking system (PBS), a secondary braking system (SBS) may independently intervene a malfunctioning braking procedure (e.g., any one of the longitudinal control, the stability control, and the standstill control) of the PBS. The PBS malfunctions may be caused by power failure, actuation failure (e.g., failure of electric motor or otherwise loss of actuation pressure), or control failure (e.g., electronic control unit (ECU) or control circuitry failure). Thus, the SBS uses an independent set of power supply, actuation devices (e.g., motors, pumps, and/or valves), and provides a redundant control circuitry to back up the control circuitry of the PBS.

Failsafe braking systems with independent braking actuations for autonomous or assisted driving vehicles

In one embodiment, a system determines activation parameters for an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV), where the activation parameters include historical usages of a primary brake system or a secondary brake system. In response to determining that a brake is to be applied, the system determines whether to activate a primary or a secondary brake system based on the activation parameters. The system sends an activation flag to activate the primary or the secondary brake system based on the determining whether to activate the primary or the secondary brake system. The system sends a brake command to the primary and the secondary brake system to activate either the primary or the secondary brake system according to the activation flag.

Activation of primary and secondary brake systems for autonomous vehicles

Sound signals are received by a plurality of microphones disposed on a top of an ADV. An analysis of the sound signals is performed based on a spectrum and a vibration intensity of the sound signals. A wheel which the sound signals come from and a thickness of a brake pad of the wheel is determine based on the analysis of the sound signals. A brake pad wear degree of the brake pad and how long the ADV can run with the brake pad within a safety range is determined. A warning message indicating warning information based on the brake pad wear degree is transmitted.

Brake pad wear detection and warning for autonomous driving vehicles

In one embodiment, a system determines a signal fault at a communication bus of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). In response to determining the signal fault, the system sends a brake pre-charge command to a brake system of the ADV to pre-charge a brake of the ADV. The system determines a preset tolerance time to validate the signal fault. In response to a time elapse of the preset tolerance time, the system validates the signal fault at the communication bus or determine a signal fault at another communication bus. In response to validating the signal fault at the communication bus or determining the signal fault at the another communication bus, the system sends a brake command to the brake system of the ADV to engage brakes for the ADV.

Braking actions for failing can buses for autonomous vehicles

This disclosure provides systems and methods for electrical power conservation during braking for autonomous or assisted driving vehicles, such as when electrical currents are continuously supplied to the brake system when the vehicle is temporarily halted at a slope. Braking hysteresis is the relationship between the input (e.g., operating pressure, caused by an electrical motor to increase the fluid pressures in the brake system) and the output (e.g., braking pressure applied by the brake pads on the rotors), in which the change of the output is different during the increase of the input and during the decrease of the input. The present disclosure provides techniques for conserving electrical power consumption by using the brake hysteresis.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Baoping Yuan