SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VISUALLY BASED COMMUNICATION AND MANEUVERING IN A FACTORY

Abstract

A procedure involves determining a current status assigned to a vehicle and outputting an indication corresponding to that status via a lighting element on the vehicle. The procedure also involves receiving one or more shunting commands based on the indication and initiating one or more actions in response to receiving those commands.

Description

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the maneuvering of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the maneuvering of the vehicle using visually based communication. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background information regarding the present disclosure and may not represent the state of the art.

[0003] The use of vehicle exterior lighting is increasingly extending beyond simply illuminating a path for the vehicle. For example, vehicle exterior lighting can be used for visually based communication to add and / or remove the vehicle from a server in a shunting environment. However, there can be inaccuracies in identifying a specific vehicle within a fleet when using vehicle exterior lighting to communicate a message, and / or limitations regarding one or more messages that can be communicated via vehicle exterior lighting. The present disclosure addresses these and other issues related to visually based communication associated with a vehicle's exterior lighting. SUMMARY

[0004] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope of protection or all of its features.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a method comprising: determining a current status associated with a vehicle; issuing an initial indication corresponding to the current status associated with the vehicle via a lighting element of the vehicle; receiving one or more shunting commands based on the initial indication; and initiating one or more actions in response to the receipt of the one or more shunting commands; wherein the vehicle is a partially constructed vehicle configured to be shunted through a manufacturing environment, and wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle;wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and further wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step in a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in the shunting process associated with the vehicle, a duration of the vehicle stopping, or a combination thereof; wherein the first indication and the second indication comprise a color light output, a sequence of light outputs, or a combination thereof;wherein the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a construct of the vehicle to be repaired, a location associated with the construct of the vehicle requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof;wherein the frequency and duration of the output of the first indication vary based on coordinates of the global positioning system for the vehicle and one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth connection; ® low energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof; and wherein one or more of the actions involve maneuvering the vehicle to a repair bay, parking location, or future location.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a system comprising: determining a vehicle system configured to: determine a current status associated with a vehicle; output an initial indication corresponding to the current status associated with the vehicle via a lighting element of the vehicle; receive one or more shunting commands based on the initial indication; and initiate one or more actions in response to receiving the one or more shunting commands; and wherein the infrastructure system is configured to: observe the initial indication and transmit the one or more shunting commands based on the observation of the initial indication.wherein the vehicle is a partially assembled vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment, and wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle; wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and further wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step in a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in the maneuvering process associated with the vehicle, a duration of the vehicle being stopped, or a combination thereof;wherein the first indication and the second indication comprise a light color output, a sequence of light outputs, or a combination thereof; wherein the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a construct of the vehicle to be repaired, a location associated with the construct of the vehicle requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof;wherein the frequency and duration of the output of the first indication vary based on coordinates of the global positioning system for the vehicle and one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth connection; ® low energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof; and wherein one or more of the actions involve maneuvering the vehicle to a repair bay, parking location, or future location.

[0007] The present disclosure provides one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that store processor-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a current status associated with a vehicle; output an initial indication corresponding to the current status associated with the vehicle via a lighting element of the vehicle; receive one or more shunting commands based on the initial indication; and initiate one or more actions in response to receiving the one or more shunting commands, wherein the one or more actions include shunting the vehicle to a repair bay, a parking location, or a future location;wherein the vehicle is a partially assembled vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment, and wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle; wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and further wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step in a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in the maneuvering process associated with the vehicle, a duration of the vehicle being stopped, or a combination thereof;wherein the first indication and the second indication comprise a light color output, a sequence of light outputs, or a combination thereof; wherein the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a construct of the vehicle to be repaired, a location associated with the construct of the vehicle requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof;wherein the frequency and duration of the output of the first indication vary based on coordinates of the global positioning system for the vehicle and one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth connection; ® This includes low-energy-based wireless communication, mobile-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof.

[0008] Further areas of application will become apparent from the description provided in this document. It is understood that the description and specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of protection afforded by this disclosure. DRAWINGS

[0009] To fully understand the revelation, various forms of it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the following applies: Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a system for automatically maneuvering vehicles according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 illustrates a display depicting a shunting environment according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; Fig. Figures 3A-3D illustrate various lighting displays emitted by a lighting element of a vehicle according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for maneuvering a vehicle and / or visually based communication with the vehicle using vehicle lighting according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and Fig. Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] The drawings described in this document serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It is understood that in all drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts and features.

[0012] One or more of the examples described in this document provide a means for maneuvering a vehicle and / or for visually based communication with the vehicle. In one or more embodiments, the vehicle can output one or more visual cues indicating its status while undergoing a manufacturing process. It is understood, however, that the vehicle can also output the one or more visual cues at any time and outside of the manufacturing process. It is also understood that the one or more visual cues may, among other things, indicate a location corresponding to a structure of the vehicle being repaired (e.g.,a component located inside and / or outside the vehicle) is assigned, a location associated with the vehicle construct requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof.

[0013] Now, referring to Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating an automated vehicle marshaling (AVM) system 100. In one or more examples, the AVM system 100 marshals one or more vehicles (e.g., a vehicle 102) moving at a low speed. However, it is understood that the AVM system 100 can marshal one or more vehicles moving at any speed. Furthermore, it is understood that the AVM system 100 can marshal semi-autonomous and / or fully autonomous vehicles.

[0014] The AVM system 100 generally includes the vehicle 102, a central server 104, a system operator 106, a cloud system 108, and an infrastructure system 110. The central server 104 is operated and managed as a central communication point with respect to the AVM system 100 and / or enables any manufacturing processes associated with the vehicle 102. For example, the central server 104 enables the maneuvering of one or more vehicles, causing the one or more vehicles to move through (e.g., traverse) a maneuvering environment (e.g., a factory floor or a parking lot).

[0015] The central server 104 is configured to communicate wirelessly and directly with each component of the AVM system 100 (e.g., the vehicle 102, the system operator 106, the cloud system 108, and the infrastructure system 110) and may include an infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112. The central server 104 is also configured to provide the vehicle 102 with information received from the infrastructure system 110 via logical interfaces. Additionally, the central server 104 is configured to calculate one or more maneuvers (e.g., movements) assigned to the vehicle 102.

[0016] The infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112 processes status information assigned to at least vehicle 102 by the one or more vehicles. It is understood that the infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112 processes status information assigned to each vehicle by the one or more vehicles. The central server 104 is configured to use the infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112 to transmit one or more instructions and / or process information received from each of the components of the AVM system 100 (e.g., vehicle 102, system operator 106, cloud system 108, and infrastructure system 110). For example, the received information may relate to, but is not limited to, the maneuvering of vehicle 102 and / or visual communication with vehicle 102.

[0017] In particular, the central server 104, based on direct communication with the one or more vehicles, is further configured to cause the one or more vehicles to start, stop, or interrupt their movement through the shunting environment. The central server 104 is also configured to control the shunting speed of the one or more vehicles as they move through the shunting environment.

[0018] The vehicle 102, which is shunted through the shunting environment, can be a partially constructed vehicle, such as a vehicle top hat or a vehicle base. However, it is understood that the vehicle 102 can also be fully assembled. The vehicle 102 includes a vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114 and a lighting element 116. In one or more embodiments, the vehicle 102 uses the vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114 to process and transmit information collected by one or more components associated with the vehicle 102 structure, such as a component located inside and / or outside the vehicle 102.For example, the components associated with the vehicle construct 102, although not shown, may include a wireless transmission module, a central vehicle gateway module, a vehicle infotainment system, one or more vehicle sensors, a vehicle battery, a vehicle global navigation satellite system (e.g., GNSS), a vehicle navigation map system, and / or a vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus. It is understood that by utilizing any one or more of the components associated with the vehicle construct 102, the vehicle 102 is equipped with a system for automated vehicle maneuvering.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114 is configured to determine the status information assigned to the vehicle 102. In one or more further embodiments, the vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114 is also configured to cause the lighting element 116 to output a value corresponding to the status information assigned to the vehicle 102. In one or more embodiments, the infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112 can additionally or alternatively determine the status information assigned to the vehicle 102 based on the processed status information, in addition to or as an alternative to the vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114.In addition, the infrastructure-side AVM algorithm 112 can also be configured to cause the lighting element 116 to output the information corresponding to the status information assigned to the vehicle 102, based on a transmission of one or more instructions from the infrastructure system 110 to the vehicle 102.

[0020] The lighting element 116 can comprise an arrangement of lights attached to the vehicle 102. However, it is understood that the lighting element 116 can also be a single light. In one or more embodiments, the lighting element 116 can be permanently integrated into the body of the vehicle 102. In one or more further embodiments, the lighting element 116 can be temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle 102. As an example, the lighting element 116 can be an accent strip of red, green, and blue (e.g., RGB) light-emitting diode(s) (e.g., LED) configured to turn on and off in a pattern to provide one or more visual cues.As another example, the one or more visual cues can correspond to a specific status of vehicle 102 and / or indicate a specific location associated with the vehicle 102 requiring repair, a location associated with the vehicle 102 requiring inspection, a fault associated with vehicle 102, a trajectory associated with a current movement of vehicle 102, a predicted future location associated with vehicle 102, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof. It is understood, however, that the one or more visual cues can correspond to any status of vehicle 102 and / or any other related information associated with vehicle 102. It is also understood that the lighting element 116 can be any other type of lighting and is not limited to LED lighting.

[0021] The one or more visual cues may include a light color output, a sequence of light outputs, or a combination thereof. It is understood, however, that the visual cue(s) may include any other light-based means of communication. For example, the one or more visual cues may be output by different parts of the lighting element 116, thus enabling the display of different colors associated with different vehicle systems. As another example, the pattern(s) may be different based on the specific status of the vehicle 102 and may change a lighting sequence of the lighting element 116, change the brightness of the lighting element 116, and / or make any other change to the lighting element 116 that relates to indicating the specific status of the vehicle 102.As yet another example, the pattern(s) can also specify one or more options and / or indicate whether certain equipment should be loaded onto vehicle 102 (or, for example, each vehicle in a fleet of vehicles).

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the frequency and / or duration of the output of one or more visual cues can vary based on the vehicle's coordinates from the global positioning system and / or one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties include a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, or a Bluetooth connection. ®This may include low-energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof. It is understood, however, that one or more of these features may include any other communication-based characteristics related to the vehicle 102. For example, the frequency and / or duration of the output of one or more visual cues may be varied to conserve energy associated with the vehicle 102 and / or the lighting element 116.

[0023] The central server 104 is configured to instruct the infrastructure system 110 to monitor the progress of the one or more vehicles as they move through the shunting environment. In one or more embodiments, the one or more vehicles are shunted through the shunting environment as part of a zero-defect forward process. For example, implementing the zero-defect forward process can replace diagnostic tools, which are typically electronic devices plugged into and / or wirelessly connected to the one or more vehicles. These electronic devices might include, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop.The central server 104 is also configured to instruct the infrastructure system 110 to capture the visual cue(s) emitted by the lighting element 116 of the vehicle(s) 102. The infrastructure system 110 includes a sensor component 118 and a wireless communication component 120. For example, the wireless communication component 120 can use GPS, Wi-Fi, satellite, 3G / 4G / 5G, and / or Bluetooth. ® to communicate with one or more vehicles. It is understood that by using any of the sensor component 118 and / or the wireless communication component 120, the infrastructure system 110 is configured to perform (a) localization function(s) associated with the maneuvering of the vehicle 102, such as, but not limited to, perception, path planning, detection, controls, response of the vehicle 102, or a combination thereof.

[0024] The wireless communication component 120 also communicates with the sensor component 118, which is configured to manage, for example, one or more cameras, lidar, radar, and / or ultrasonic devices. The sensor component 118 monitors the movement of one or more vehicles while they are being maneuvered through the shunting environment. Additionally, the sensor component 118 receives the visual signal(s) emitted by the lighting element 116 of the vehicle(s) 102. It is understood that the infrastructure system 110 can forward (e.g., transmit) the received (e.g., detected) visual signal to the central server 104.It is also understood that the central server 104 is configured to process the received one or more visual cues and to determine which indication the visual cue(s) corresponds to with regard to a status of the vehicle(s) 102.

[0025] The system operator 106 can be a human operator tasked with monitoring one or more shunted vehicles by communicating with the cloud system 108. In one or more embodiments, the system operator 106 communicates with the cloud system 108 and / or monitors the one or more vehicles via a user device (not shown) and / or the human operator's eyes. It is understood, however, that the system operator 106 can also be a non-human operator, such as a mainframe controller, a machine learning-based control system, or any neural network. It is also understood that the system operator 106 is tasked with managing and / or monitoring the operation of the vehicle 102 (e.g., via an internal interface) during automated shunting, a pickup process, and / or at individual locations.System operator 106 is able to receive instructions from the central server 104 and forward these instructions to one or more vehicles via the cloud system 108. For example, the instructions received from the central server 104 could be one or more shunting commands that instruct the one or more vehicles to drive to a vehicle repair bay, a parking location, a future location, or any other location. As another example, the instructions could be based on one or more processed visual cues.

[0026] In addition to visually monitoring one or more visual indicators, the system operator 106 can obtain other information relating to the corresponding indication(s) from the cloud system 108. It is understood that the cloud system 108 is a backend system, which may be an original equipment manufacturer's cloud system, responsible for the remote activation and / or deactivation of (an) AVM application(s), including the registration and / or deregistration of the vehicle 102 from the AVM system 100.

[0027] As one example, the other information obtained can be displayed on the user device. For instance, one or more vehicles can report any of the data to the cloud system 108. As another example, in response to receiving the reported data, the cloud system 108 can determine a repair plan to address the data, which may correspond to a repairable problem with the one or more vehicles. As yet another example, in response to receiving the reported data, the cloud system 108 can also report the data to the central server 104 via the system operator 106, so that the central server 104 can route the one or more vehicles to a repair facility or any other location.As another example, in response to receiving the reported information, the Cloud System 108 can also cause one or more vehicles to emit a specific light pattern that indicates the vehicle's future location (e.g., via the Infrastructure System 110 and / or the System Operator 106). For example, a specific color could correspond to a particular parking location or repair bay. It is understood that the Cloud System 108 can use various software applications to determine the repair plan, report the information, and / or initiate the emission of the light pattern. As yet another example, the specific color could also indicate how long one or more vehicles have been stopped or how long they have been out of use.

[0028] Although the user device can be a tablet used by the system operator 106, a tablet (or any other suitable electronic device) can also be used at one or more workstations distributed throughout the shunting environment. As an example, and as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the user device can display a virtual representation (e.g., a digital twin) of the production facility on a display 200, which is color-coded so that the status information assigned to the vehicle 102 can be easily perceived and / or to highlight a specific vehicle among many vehicles. In one or more embodiments, and in a case where the lighting element 116 is not attached to the vehicle 102, the user device can display a virtual lighting system that is visible to the system operator 106 via an augmented reality system, which can correspond to the virtual representation of the production facility.

[0029] Fig. Figures 3A-3D illustrate examples of different embodiments of the use of the lighting element 116 to communicate the status information associated with the vehicle 102 to at least the infrastructure system 110 and / or the system operator 106. It is understood that the vehicle 102 does not need to be shunted and / or participate in a shunting operation (e.g., a shunting process) for the lighting element 116 to emit the one or more visual indicators that indicate a status of the vehicle 102 and / or a location associated with a component of the vehicle 102 requiring repair, a location associated with a component of the vehicle 102 requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle 102, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle 102, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle 102, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof.For example, and in other words, a repair facility may be able to determine any of the relevant indication(s) relating to the one or more visual cues based on the output of the lighting element 116 of a manually operated vehicle. It is understood that the one or more visual cues may correspond to any status of the vehicle 102 and / or any other related information associated with the vehicle 102.

[0030] For example, it illustrates Fig. 3A the activation of an entire lighting element 116 of the vehicle 102, which extends along the entire body of the vehicle 102. It is understood that a complete activation of the entire lighting element 116 of the vehicle 102 can indicate a start of the vehicle 102. It is also understood that the complete activation of the entire lighting element 116 of the vehicle 102 at the start of the vehicle 102 can indicate the complete operation of the lighting element 116. However, it is understood that the complete activation of the entire lighting element 116 of the vehicle 102 can represent any other indication of the functionality associated with the lighting element 116 and / or the vehicle 102.

[0031] As another example illustrates Fig. 3B the activation of the lighting element 116 corresponding to an area relative to a front bumper of the vehicle 102. It is understood that the activation of the lighting element 116 corresponding to the area relative to the front bumper of the vehicle 102 may indicate status information of the vehicle 102 and / or a required repair of the front bumper of the vehicle 102, a required inspection of the front bumper of the vehicle 102, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle 102, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle 102, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof.However, it is understood that the activation of the lighting element 116, which corresponds to the area relative to the front bumper of the vehicle 102, may correspond to any status of the vehicle 102 and / or any other related information assigned to the vehicle 102.

[0032] As another example illustrates Fig. 3C, the activation of various sections of the lighting element 116, which is installed on one side of a partially assembled version of the vehicle 102 (e.g., a top-hat version of the vehicle 102). As a further example, illustrated Fig. 3D activation of various sections of the lighting element 116, which is installed on one side of a fully assembled version of vehicle 102. It is understood that, while Fig. 3C and Fig. 3D representation of the lighting element 116 as installed on one side of the vehicle 102 is understood to mean that the lighting element 116 can be installed (e.g., attached) at any other location on the vehicle 102, including another side, front, rear, or top of the vehicle 102. It is also understood that the activation of different sections of the lighting element 116 can indicate status information associated with the vehicle 102 or any other information associated with the vehicle 102. Furthermore, it is understood that different lighting elements attached to the vehicle 102 can each emit a different pattern or one or more other visual cues, and it is not necessary for each lighting element to emit the same pattern or visual cue(s).

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary procedure 400 for maneuvering a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 102) and / or for visually based communication with the vehicle. In procedure 402, a current status associated with the vehicle is determined. For example, the current status associated with the vehicle is determined by a vehicle-side algorithm (e.g., the vehicle-side AVM algorithm 114). As another example, the vehicle is a partially assembled vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment. As yet another example, the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device.

[0034] Operation 404 outputs an initial piece of information corresponding to the current status assigned to the vehicle. For example, the initial piece of information about a lighting element (e.g., lighting element 116) of the vehicle is output. As another example, the initial piece of information about the vehicle's lighting element is output to an infrastructure system (e.g., infrastructure system 110) or one or more human operators (e.g., system operator 106). It is understood that the initial piece of information about the vehicle's lighting element can be output to another vehicle or any other receiver or system that can perceive (e.g., process and / or record) the initial piece of information. In one or more embodiments, the lighting element is permanently integrated into the vehicle's body.In one or more further embodiments, the lighting element is temporarily attached to the vehicle body. In yet another example, the first indication is provided by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems. In a further example, the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a construct (e.g., a component located inside and / or outside the vehicle) of the vehicle to be repaired, a location associated with the construct of the vehicle requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof.As another example, the first indication is also a visual cue used to instruct a specific operator from among the one or more human operators to investigate a problem associated with the vehicle.

[0035] For example, the frequency and / or duration of the first entry varies based on the vehicle's coordinates from the global positioning system and / or one or more properties assigned to the vehicle, where one or more properties include, among others, a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, or a Bluetooth connection. ®This includes low-energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof. As another example, the electronic device is configured to output a second piece of information. As yet another example, the second piece of information is a visual cue that corresponds to, among other things, a step in a manufacturing process, a vehicle destination, a corresponding location assigned to the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process assigned to the vehicle, a delay in a shunting process assigned to the vehicle, the duration of the vehicle's stop, or a combination thereof. As a further example, the first and second pieces of information include a light color output, a sequence of light outputs, or a combination thereof.

[0036] In Operation 406, one or more shunting commands are received. In one or more embodiments, the one or more shunting commands are received from the infrastructure system. In one or more further embodiments, the one or more shunting commands are received from a user input by one or more human operators. However, it is understood that the one or more shunting commands are received from both the infrastructure system and the user input. In yet another example, the one or more shunting commands are received based on the first input. In Operation 408, one or more actions are initiated in response to the receipt of the one or more shunting commands. For example, the one or more actions might involve shunting the vehicle to a repair bay, a parking location, or a future location.

[0037] Fig. Figure 5 illustrates an operating environment that enables the performance of one or more of the systems and methods described in this document. In particular, the systems and methods described in this document may be implemented using a computing device 502. For example, the computing device 502 may be a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a handheld computer, a server, a workstation, a mainframe computer, a portable computer, a supercomputer, or a combination thereof. It is understood, however, that the foregoing examples of computing device 502 are not exhaustive and that the computing device 502 may be any type of processing or computing device.The computing device 502 generally includes a processor 504, a display adapter 506, one or more input / output ports 508, one or more input / output components 510, a network adapter 512, a power supply 514, and a memory 516. However, it is understood that the computing device 502 may include any additional components and need not include any of the listed components (e.g., the processor 504, the display adapter 506, the one or more input / output ports 508, the one or more input / output components 510, the network adapter 512, the power supply 514, and the memory 516).

[0038] The processor 504 is configured to provide instructions to the computing device 502, enabling the computing device 502 to process one or more tasks, including implementing a software program to perform one or more operations, as described in more detail in this document. It is also understood that the computing device 502 can contain any number of processors 504. The display adapter 506 can be a graphics card or a video board that provides the computing device 502 with the ability to display content on a display device 518.For example, the display device 518 may be any screen, monitor, and / or light-emitting component associated with any personal computer, desktop, laptop, tablet, handheld computer, server, workstation, mainframe, portable computer, supercomputer, or a combination thereof. It is understood, however, that the foregoing examples of the display device 518 are not exhaustive and that the display device 518 may be any type of device capable of providing a visual display.

[0039] The input / output port(s) 508 provides a number of interfaces (e.g., sockets) for one or more cables to be connected to the computing device 502. It is understood that any number of input / output ports 508 may be present on the computing device 502. For example, the input / output port(s) 508 provides a means for the computing device 502 to receive signals and / or data from an external device connected to the computing device 502 by one or more cables. As another example, the input / output port(s) 508 provides a means for the computing device 502 to send signals and / or data to an external device connected to the computing device 502 by one or more cables.The input / output component(s) 510 may include one or more components that support the input / output port(s) 508, such as, but not limited to, a switch, a push button, a pressure pad, a float switch, a keypad, a radio receiver, or a combination thereof.

[0040] The network adapter 512 can be any type of network interface controller configured to provide a means of communication over a network 520 with another computing device, such as a remote computing device 522. For example, the remote computing device 522 can be a user device, such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop, or a combination thereof. The power supply 514 is configured to convert high-voltage alternating current (e.g., AC) to direct current (e.g., DC) to provide power to the other components (e.g., the processor 504, the display adapter 506, the one or more input / output port(s) 508, the one or more input / output component(s) 510, the network adapter 512, and the memory 516) of the computing device 502.

[0041] Additionally, Memory 516 can be a mass storage device and / or system memory, such as a hard disk drive, a memory card, a solid-state drive, random access memory (RAM), or a combination thereof. Memory 516 is configured to provide storage for instructions and data associated with the operation of the computing device 502. Memory 516 can generally include an operating system 524, detection software 526, and detection data 528. For example, the operating system 524 is configured to manage and / or process any of the data and / or instructions associated with the detection software 526 and / or the detection data 528, as described in more detail in this document.

[0042] Furthermore, a system bus 530 is included within the computing device 502, which is configured to couple each of the various components (e.g., the processor 504, the display adapter 506, the one or more input / output ports 508, the one or more input / output component(s) 510, the network adapter 512, the power supply 514, and the memory 516) of the computing device 502. It is also understood that each of the components of the computing device 502 and the functionality associated with each component of the computing device 502 can be implemented within the remote computing device 522. While the operating environment, which is in Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a specific configuration that is associated with at least the computing device 502, the network 520 and the remote computing device 522; it is understood that the operating environment can be configured in any way.

[0043] Thus, one or more examples of the present disclosure provide a means for visually based communication in at least one shunting environment, wherein a vehicle is able to diagnose itself and communicate status information (e.g., or any other information) via an output of varying lighting patterns displayed on a lighting element of the vehicle.

[0044] Unless expressly stated otherwise in this document, all numerical values ​​indicating mechanical / thermal properties, percentages of compositions, dimensions and / or tolerances, or other parameters are to be understood as modified by the word "approximately" or "about" when describing the scope of protection of this disclosure. This modification is desirable for various reasons, including industrial practice, material, manufacturing and assembly tolerances, and testability.

[0045] As used in this document, the phrase "at least one of A, B and C" should be interpreted as meaning a logical (A OR B OR C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be interpreted as meaning "at least one of A, at least one of B and at least one of C".

[0046] In this application, the terms "controller" and / or "module" may refer to, be part of, or include: an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinable logic circuit; a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the foregoing, such as in a system-on-a-chip.

[0047] The term storage is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. In the sense used in this document, the term computer-readable medium does not include transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals that propagate through a medium (such as a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium can therefore be considered tangible and non-transient.Non-restrictive examples of a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium include non-volatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, a erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0048] The devices and procedures described in this application can be implemented in part or in whole by a specialized computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to perform one or more specific functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications that can be translated into computer programs through the routine work of an experienced technician or programmer.

[0049] The description of the revelation is purely exemplary, and thus it is intended that examples which do not deviate from the content of the revelation fall within the scope of protection afforded by the revelation. Such variations are not to be considered a deviation from the nature and scope of protection afforded by the revelation.

[0050] According to the present invention, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media are provided on which processor-executable instructions are stored which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: determine a current status associated with a vehicle; output a first indication corresponding to the current status associated with the vehicle via a lighting element; receive one or more shunting commands based on the first indication; and initiate one or more actions in response to the receipt of the one or more shunting commands, wherein the one or more actions include shunting the vehicle to a repair bay, a parking location, or a future location.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the vehicle is a partially constructed vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment, wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step in a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in a shunting process associated with the vehicle, a duration of the vehicle stopping, or a combination thereof.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the first specification and the second specification comprise a light color output, a sequence of light output, or a combination thereof.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring repair, a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the frequency and / or duration of the output of the first value varies based on the vehicle's coordinates from the global positioning system and / or one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step in a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth connection ® This includes low energy-based wireless communication, mobile network-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof.

Claims

[1] Procedure, comprising the following: Determining a current status assigned to a vehicle; Output of an initial indication corresponding to the current status assigned to the vehicle via a lighting element of the vehicle; Receiving one or more shunting orders based on the first one; and Initiating one or more actions in response to receiving one or more shunting orders. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a partially constructed vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step of a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in a shunting process associated with the vehicle, a duration of stopping the vehicle, or a combination thereof. [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein the first specification and the second specification comprise a light color output, a sequence of the light output or a combination thereof. [5] Method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or is temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle. [6] Method according to claim 1, wherein the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring repair, a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof. [7] Method according to claim 1, wherein the frequency and / or duration of the output of the first indication varies based on coordinates of the vehicle from the global positioning system and / or one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step of a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth ® This includes low-energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof. [8] Method according to claim 1, wherein one or more actions involve maneuvering the vehicle to a repair bay, a parking location or a future location. [9] System, comprising the following: a vehicle system configured to do the following: Determining a current status assigned to a vehicle, Output of an initial indication corresponding to the current status assigned to the vehicle via a lighting element of the vehicle, Receiving one or more shunting commands based on the first specification and Initiating one or more actions in response to receiving one or more shunting orders; and an infrastructure system configured to do the following: Observe the first indication, and Transmitting one or more shunting commands based on observation of the first indication. [10] System according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a partially constructed vehicle configured to be maneuvered through a manufacturing environment, and wherein the lighting element is permanently integrated into a body of the vehicle or temporarily attached to the body of the vehicle. [11] System according to claim 10, wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more workstations equipped with an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is configured to output a second indication, and wherein the second indication is a visual cue corresponding to a step of a manufacturing process, a destination of the vehicle, a corresponding location associated with the vehicle, a delay in the manufacturing process associated with the vehicle, a delay in a shunting process associated with the vehicle, a duration of stopping the vehicle, or a combination thereof. [12] System according to claim 11, wherein the first specification and the second specification comprise a light color output, a sequence of light output or a combination thereof. [13] System according to claim 9, wherein the first indication is output by different parts of the lighting element corresponding to different vehicle systems, and wherein the first indication is a visual cue corresponding to a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring repair, a location associated with a vehicle construct requiring inspection, a fault associated with the vehicle, a trajectory associated with a current movement of the vehicle, a predicted future location associated with the vehicle, one or more vehicle options, or a combination thereof. [14] System according to claim 9, wherein the frequency and / or duration of the output of the first indication varies based on coordinates of the vehicle from the global positioning system and / or one or more properties associated with the vehicle, wherein the one or more properties are a battery charge level, a step of a manufacturing process, a radio key, a telephone as a key feature, a Bluetooth ® This includes low-energy-based wireless communication, cellular-based wireless communication, wireless fidelity-based wireless communication, or a combination thereof. [15] System according to claim 9, wherein one or more actions involve maneuvering the vehicle to a repair bay, a parking location or a future location.

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