FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle networks for autonomous vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for optimizing drop test configurations.

BACKGROUND

An autonomous vehicle can be capable of sensing its environment and navigating with little to no human input. In particular, an autonomous vehicle can observe its surrounding environment using a variety of sensors and can attempt to comprehend the environment by performing various processing techniques on data collected by the sensors. Given knowledge of its surrounding environment, the autonomous vehicle can navigate through such surrounding environment.

SUMMARY

Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or can be learned from the description, or can be learned through practice of the embodiments.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method for conducting a drop test of an article with one or more target parameters can include dropping the article and a drop carriage of a drop tower from an initial height with respect to a base of the drop tower for an initial drop test, wherein the article is coupled to the drop carriage. The method can include detecting accelerometer data with respect to the article for an initial impact of the initial drop test between the drop carriage and the base of the drop tower. The method can include determining a constant energy balance curve for at least one of a complex stiffness or a total weight of the article and the drop carriage with respect to a pulse duration of the initial impact, the complex stiffness being for at least one of the drop carriage or the base of the drop tower. The method can include determining, based on the constant energy balance curve and a target pulse duration, at least one of a target complex stiffness or a target total weight for the article and the drop carriage. The method can include adjusting, based on the target complex stiffness or the target total weight, the at least one of the complex stiffness or the total weight for a subsequent drop test. The method can include conducting the subsequent drop test after adjusting the at least one of the complex stiffness or the total weight for the subsequent drop test.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for conducting a drop test of an article with one or more target parameters can include a drop assembly comprising a drop tower and a drop carriage, the drop tower comprising a base. The article can be coupled to the drop carriage. The system can include one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that collectively store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations can include detecting first accelerometer data with respect to the article for an initial impact of an initial drop test between the drop carriage and the base of the drop tower when the drop carriage and article are dropped from an initial height with respect to the base of the drop tower for an initial drop test. The operations can include determining a constant energy balance curve for at least one of a complex stiffness or a total weight of the article and the drop carriage with respect to a pulse duration of the initial impact. The complex stiffness can be for at least one of the drop carriage or the base of the drop tower. The method can include determining at least one of a target complex stiffness or a target total weight for the article and the drop carriage based on the constant energy balance curve, the first accelerometer data, and a target pulse duration. The method can include detecting second accelerometer data with respect to the article for a subsequent drop test between the drop carriage and the base of the drop tower with the at least one of the target complex stiffness or the target total weight for the article and the drop carriage.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a computer-implemented method for conducting a drop test of an article with one or more target parameters. The method can include detecting, by one or more computing devices, first accelerometer data with respect to an article for an initial impact of an initial drop test between a drop carriage and a base of a drop tower when the drop carriage and article are dropped from an initial height with respect to the base of the drop tower for an initial drop test; automatically determining, by the one or more computing devices and in response to detecting the first accelerometer data, a constant energy balance curve for at least one of a complex stiffness or a total weight of the article and the drop carriage with respect to a pulse duration of the initial impact, the complex stiffness being for at least one of the drop carriage or the base of the drop tower; and automatically determining, by the one or more computing devices at least one of a target complex stiffness or a target total weight for the article and the drop carriage based on the constant energy balance curve, the first accelerometer data, and a target pulse duration

Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to various systems, apparatuses, non-transitory computer-readable media, user interfaces, and electronic devices.

The autonomous vehicle technology described herein can help improve the safety of passengers of an autonomous vehicle, improve the safety of the surroundings of the autonomous vehicle, improve the experience of the rider and/or operator of the autonomous vehicle, as well as provide other improvements as described herein. Moreover, the autonomous vehicle technology of the present disclosure can help improve the ability of an autonomous vehicle to effectively provide vehicle services to others and support the various members of the community in which the autonomous vehicle is operating, including persons with reduced mobility and/or persons that are underserved by other transportation options. Additionally, the autonomous vehicle of the present disclosure may reduce traffic congestion in communities as well as provide alternate forms of transportation that may provide environmental benefits.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate example embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the related principles.

