Certified control for self-driving cars

US11745732B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. · US
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Daniel Jackson · Newton, US
• Jonathan DeCastro · Arlington, US
• Soon Ho Kong · Arlington, US
• Nikos Arechiga Gonzalez · Los Altos, US
• Dimitrios Koutentakis · Cambridge, US
• Feng Ping Angela Leong · Cambridge, US
• Mike Meichang Wang · Cambridge, US
• Xin Zhang · Laiyang City, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 2019
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 4, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60W2050/0006
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for certified control of a self-driving ego vehicle is described. The method includes analyzing a safety situation of the self-driving ego vehicle to determine a proposed vehicle control action using a main controller of the self-driving ego vehicle. The method also includes presenting, by the main controller, the proposed vehicle control action to an interlock controller, including a certificate of the proposed vehicle control action. The method further includes checking a safety certification evidence from the certificate by the interlock controller using a predefined safety argument to verify the safety certification evidence of the certificate. The method also includes directing, by a low-level controller, the self-driving ego vehicle to perform a certified vehicle control action.