Augmented Reality Navigation for Vehicle Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems struggle to facilitate the identification of vehicles or people in crowded areas, such as large parking lots, especially under poor visibility conditions, making it difficult for participants to meet at agreed-upon locations.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology, where communication participants exchange location-based information via a wireless network, and the location of participants is determined using camera-based AR methods, allowing for visual identification by marking participants on a navigation map display, even if they are outside the camera's detection area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a navigation system is used to guide participants to an agreed destination, then the destination can be indicated to the driver, but it becomes difficult to identify the other vehicle or person in crowded areas with many parked vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloss of location informationVSAvoiddifficulty of detecting target vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies augmented reality visualization techniques where the target vehicle or person is highlighted with visual markers, borders, or color-coded indicators on the navigation map display. This visual enhancement transforms the plain navigation information into easily distinguishable target identification, allowing participants to quickly locate each other among many vehicles without confusion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary augmented reality display layer between the navigation system and the driver. This intermediary layer processes raw location data and presents it in an enhanced visual format that bridges the gap between knowing the destination coordinates and actually spotting the target vehicle in a crowded environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If camera-based AR methods are used to identify participants visually, then identification becomes easier, but participants outside the camera detection area cannot be identified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifficulty of detecting targetVSAvoidcoverage area of detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two complementary identification methods: camera-based augmented reality visualization for nearby targets and navigation map display with location markers for distant or out-of-range targets. This combination ensures continuous identification capability across all distances and camera field-of-view conditions, eliminating the limitation of camera detection area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between or combines camera-based AR visualization and map-based location display depending on the target's distance and camera detection status. When a target is within camera range, AR visualization is used; when outside range, map display takes over, creating a seamless and adaptable identification system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If multiple displays are added to provide comprehensive information, then information completeness improves, but the overview of the vehicle dashboard is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloss of information completenessVSAvoidcomplexity of dashboard
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the navigation map display serve multiple functions: it shows the route to the destination, marks the location of the target vehicle or person, and provides contextual environmental information. By making this single display multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate displays while maintaining complete information presentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system overlays augmented reality visual elements on top of the existing navigation map display, adding a new dimension of information presentation without physically expanding the dashboard. This layered approach allows multiple information types to coexist on the same display surface, maintaining dashboard simplicity while improving information completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3267700B1Method for exchanging and displaying of location-based information
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3267700B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3267700B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3267700B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for exchanging and displaying location-related information between multiple communication participants (14, 16, 18), in particular at least one communication participant (14, 18) in a vehicle (12, 24). The information exchange takes place via a wireless communication network, and the participant (14, 16, 18) is located and identified using a camera-based augmented reality method, in which at least one of the communication participants (14, 16, 18) is identified. The invention aims to provide a solution that facilitates the location of vehicles or people when meeting up.