FAQ Prudence Based Automated Driving
Frequently Asked Questions on AUTOMATED DRIVING VEHICLES
(From Preventive ACC, to level 4 self-driving)
What are the advantages of prudence based method compared to the classic scenario method for Autonomous Vehicles?
We detect events. For example, an event can be pedestrian crossing, a stop sign, a curve, a parked bus, a car ahead, a bicycle, etc. We associate a prudence function to each detected event in parallel. The combination of detected event make a scenario. Then the current scenario is taken into account formally by logical fusion of prudence functions. By doing so, any scenario of detected events can be taken into account, even very rare scenarios. We replace the recording of scenarios (almost infinite number) by a logical fusion of prudence functions. And in no case do we need the scenarios in large database. We focus on events which instead of scenarios because they are much fewer in number. So this reduces complexity by a factor of 10 to 100 for design of Self-Driving tasks.
What is the contribution of your technology of prudence assessment in terms of development time of automated vehicles ?
Reducing complexity leads to development, integration, test and validation times shortened by a factor of 10 to 100.
Why do your products of prudence assessment reduce CPU load and consume less energy for automated vehices?
Our tool consumes less than 5% of the CPU load of a standard architecture. Then power consumption is very low, and the heat released by the microprocessor is reduced. This facilitates integration into a small vehicle.
You claim to use Artificial Intelligence in your technology, but what it is exactly?
We associate a Prudence Functions to each detected singularities (obstacles, road geometry and signs, and V2X information) in parallel. Prudence Functions are dynamic as singularities are. The combination of detected singularities makes then a « dynamic scenario » that is taken into account FORMALLY by LOGICAL FUSION of Prudence Functions. Artificial Intelligence methods used are Fuzzy Logic and Possibility Theory.
Have your products of prudence assessment already been tested and used for automated vehicles?
Reference of customer: STELLANTIS
What does your tool concretely change for engineers in charge of developing automated vehicles?
Development, test, validation teams have more time to devote to details and can go further in expressing automation needs. Our tool is just a tool, like the crane for making buildings. We go faster with a crane than by hand. So we do not replace engineers, we amplify their creativity. Then, they will be able to go further within the same deadlines and improve competitiveness comparing to other trade marks.
Is your tool a black box ?
No, our tool is not a black box, it was designed by engineers for engineers. Indeed, engineers can configure the tool exactly as they want. For example, they can inhibit prudence functions if they deem them not applicable or too secure and poorly accepted by customers. They likewise can create their own prudence functions. So the tool is completely open. It is also important that our tool is adjustable because manufacturers all have a different idea of their customer’s expectations in terms of driving.
