Vehicle Transport Notification for Authorized Autonomous Parking Moves

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Solution Overview

Problem

In parking lots without restricted entry, the sudden movement of autonomous vehicle transportation devices can surprise or unsettle surrounding persons, as they cannot predict the device's actions, and it is difficult to determine if the transportation work is being performed by a permitted third party or a malicious individual.

Innovation Solution

A notification system that communicates with the vehicle transportation device, terminal, and server to notify surrounding persons that the transportation work is being performed by a third party with permission, using a notification device on the vehicle to inform them through visual, auditory, or image-based means when the vehicle is being lifted or moved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vehicle transportation device performs autonomous transportation work without notification, then the transportation efficiency is improved, but the surrounding persons feel surprised or strange due to unpredictable movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidsurprise or strangeness to surrounding persons
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device activates before the vehicle transportation device performs lifting or transportation actions, providing advance warning to surrounding persons. This preliminary notification allows people to anticipate the autonomous device's movements, eliminating surprise while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle transportation device operates autonomously without identification, then the operation simplicity is improved, but the surrounding persons cannot determine if the transportation is performed by a permitted third party

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidinformation about permission status
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device serves as an intermediary between the autonomous vehicle transportation device and surrounding persons. It conveys information about the permission status and identity of the operating third party, bridging the information gap while maintaining autonomous operation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The notification device uses visual signals such as colored lights or display elements to indicate the permission status and identity of the operating party. This visual communication method provides clear, easily distinguishable information about whether transportation is authorized without complicating the autonomous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS12198537B2Notification system, vehicle transportation system, and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.01.14 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • US12198537B2 patent drawing
  • US12198537B2 patent drawing
  • US12198537B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The notification system is configured to be capable of communicating with the outside, and is configured to notify the surroundings of the fact that the conveyance work is performed by a third party who has obtained permission when the vehicle is conveyed by the vehicle transportation device capable of autonomous traveling based on a notification instruction from the outside.