Beyond Autonomous Cars; Open Autonomous Vehicle Safety Competitions. Mike Cannon Boyd Wilson Clemson University & Omnibond

Transcription

1 Beyond Autonomous Cars; Open Autonomous Vehicle Safety Competitions Mike Cannon Boyd Wilson Clemson University & Omnibond

2 Abstract By applying open collaborative concepts, to autonomous vehicle research, we could further advance the safety in self driving vehicles. The vision is to have an open autonomous vehicle safety competition, in which a vehicle is required to maneuver a difficult course, erroring on the side of least bodily injury. The specifics of this session are to see if there is interest in autonomous vehicle safety competitions. There will be a demonstration of TrafficVision, an existing off auto sensor technology. The session will end with thoughts on what an open autonomous vehicle safety competition venue would consist of, specifically seeking input from the community. Audience: Automotive Enthusiasts, Robotic / autonomous vehicle engineers, Robotic / autonomous software developers The ultimate benefits of the this would produce safer transportation system(s). Decrease the time to have working autonomous vehicles on city streets. Create new collaborative environments between the auto industry and universities focused on open collaboration for safety.

3 How to get Autonomous Vehicles Accepted & How I got Interested Discussions at Conferences: Linuxcon Europe, SCaLE & Automotive Linux Summit (an odd mix?) Mark Hinkle s We Won! What s Next? Presentation; Panel: Autonomous Vehicles and Open Source Collision or Cooperation events.linuxfoundation.org/sites/events/files/slides/edinburgh %20ALS%20panel.pdf

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5 Benchmarks Specifically, IT professionals benchmark systems with a tool to simulate real world scenarios. - io generator for storage or network performance. Speeds up vetting issues, less wasting of other peoples time, fun to do this type of work. Benchmarks can be applied to any topic.

6 Safety Requirements vs. Benchmarks NHTSA defines the minimum requirements for vehicles. The value of doing benchmarks is increased exposure to hazards, specially complex hazards, outside traditional impact tests. The focus is on hazard avoidance, based on known rules.

7 Safety Benchmark Complexity Many car commercials are showing new automatic safety features. (Volvo truck) Most of the auto manufactures, with existing automated safety systems are based on very predictable events. Having the vehicle autonomously decide to quickly change lanes for hazard avoidance is an additional level of complexity.

8 Advanced Safety Benchmarks I m specifically speaking about safety benchmarks. A way to simulate avoidance of advanced real world hazardous scenarios. We can now fully simulate the real world scenarios on a test track. Previously, any real world scenario involved a driver in control (even remote controlled), safety concerns, prevented full vetting of the system...

9 Safety Development & Competition New car development costs 100 of million of dollars and takes 4 to 5 years, F1 does this in 18 Months Formula1 is changing from a spectators sport to being a world leader in eco friendly automotive technology. Competitions for the safest autonomous automobile will stimulate advanced interests in the area of auto safety.

10 Safety Competition One specific element is the hazards are open, and realistic. Having track specific hazards, that may require a patch to all the vehicles to properly recognize the hazard (avoid something that is not there).

11 Law of Autonomous Vehicles Isaac Asimov robot laws paraphrased for autos Auto will not injure a human or through inaction, allow a human to come to harm. Auto must obey the orders (steering and braking) given to it by humans, except where such orders would conflict with the First law. Auto must protect its own existence (avoid potholes) as long as long as such protection would not conflict with the First or Second law.

12 Details Behind the Laws Do you avoid a small ball in the lane, resulting in traffic jam? (yes) Do you avoid a small ball in the lane, causing traffic jam, if there was a human chasing the ball? Would you sideswiped a car to avoid a human? (yes) Would you hit a (populated) school bus under any circumstance? (maybe)

13 Collaboration We can t foresee the real world transportation variables. There needs to be more insight/help/teamwork use the linux collaboration method. In this case, turn it around to only collaborate on hazards rather than avoidance system. Turn right at the black and white dog standing in the road.

14 Collaboration Example ioflo was recently posted github.com/ioflo/ioflo Automated Reasoning Engine and Flow Based Programming Framework ioflo: meaningful autonomy not just clever programming primary barrier to higher levels of meaning autonomy is programmer capacity not processor capacity

15 Enabling Smaller More Efficient Cars Some people want to drive smaller Cars, but reluctant because of the size differential of cars. With autonomous cars, people would be more willing when the trust is there. To get where we need to be is a long and hard Journey. Systemic Ecosystem change required.

16 Communication/ Connected Vehicle Know issues ahead / vicinity Off car sensors, automatic versus autonomous TrafficVision Sensors to leverage data from for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

17 TrafficVision Cameras as Sensors Cameras and Computer Vision Processing Road Side Sensors Counts, Classifications, Occupancy Detecting Incidents See TrafficVision youtube Channel for examples

18 Incident Detection Snapshots Stopped vehicles in daylight and in shadow Snapshots sent via /sms text message; live installations 2012,2013

19 Incident Detection Snapshots Stopped vehicles at night Snapshots sent via /sms text message; live installations 2012,2013

20 Incident Detection Snapshots Stopped Vehicles & Pedestrians Snapshots sent via /sms text message; live installations 2012,2013

21 Safety & Quality INTEK/INKOTE designed a mill based on Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV).

22 Safety These units have very simple mechanical safety devices.

23 Question/Discussion For original slide with notes in pptx format: people.clemson.edu/~mikec/autonomous_sc.pptx