Redundant hardware system for autonomous vehicles

The technology relates to partially redundant equipment architectures for vehicles able to operate in an autonomous driving mode. Aspects of the technology employ fallback configurations, such as two or more fallback sensor configurations that provide some minimum amount of field of view (FOV) around the vehicle (Figs. 11B, 11C and 11D). For instance, different sensor arrangements are logically associated with different operating domains of the vehicle (Fig. 12). Fallback configurations for computing resources (1202a, 1202b) and/or power resources (1302a, 1302b) are also provided. Each fallback configuration may have different reasons for being triggered (1408), and may result in different types of fallback modes of operation (1410, 1412). Triggering conditions may relate, e.g., to a type of failure, fault or other reduction in component capability, the current driving mode, environmental conditions in the vicinity of vehicle or along a planned route, or other factors. Fallback modes may involve altering a previously planned trajectory, altering vehicle speed, and/or altering a destination of the vehicle.