Autonomous Freight Vehicle Control for Checkpoint and Port Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current goods transportation systems rely heavily on truck drivers, leading to high costs and security risks due to driver fatigue, as they often drive long distances, necessitating a more efficient and safer method for transporting goods.

Innovation Solution

A system for autonomous vehicle transportation that includes an operation system and vehicle controller, enabling vehicles to autonomously move between checkpoints and loading/unloading positions within highway ports, eliminating the need for human drivers and managing logistics through communication with checkpoint and loading/unloading control systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If truck drivers drive trucks for transportation between highway ports and other locations, then goods transportation can be performed, but transportation costs increase and driving security risks arise due to driver fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving securityVSAvoidmanual driving operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle controller enables the truck to perform self-service functions including autonomous navigation to highway ports, self-checking at checkpoints, and coordinating with loading/unloading equipment, eliminating the need for manual driving operations and reducing security risks associated with driver fatigue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical driving system operated by human drivers with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and communication modules to perform navigation, checkpoint verification, and coordination with port equipment, thereby improving driving security through automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If a large number of truck drivers and management personnel are employed for goods transportation, then transportation operations can be maintained, but transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation operation efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of personnel
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle system performs self-navigation, self-checking at checkpoints using onboard sensors and communication modules, and self-coordination with loading/unloading equipment, eliminating the need for truck drivers and reducing the number of management personnel required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle controller continuously receives feedback from sensors detecting the vehicle's position, checkpoint status, and communication with the operation system, enabling autonomous decision-making and coordination without human intervention, thereby maintaining transportation operations with reduced personnel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Duration of action of moving object

If truck drivers drive long distances for a long time, then transportation coverage is expanded, but driver fatigue increases leading to security risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving durationVSAvoiddriving security
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle controller enables the truck to perform self-navigation and self-monitoring over extended durations without human intervention, using sensors to detect position, obstacles, and operational status, thereby eliminating security risks associated with driver fatigue while maintaining extended transportation coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the human driver's mechanical and physiological systems with an automated control system that has no fatigue, enabling continuous operation over long distances and durations while maintaining high reliability and security through electronic sensing and decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3657290B1System and method for realizing automatic transport by vehicle, and related device
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 BEIJING TUSEN ZHITU TECH CO LTD
  • EP3657290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3657290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3657290B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a system, method and associated apparatus for autonomous vehicle transportation. The system includes: an operation system (11) configured to generate a transportation plan for a vehicle and transmit the transportation plan to a vehicle controller (12) of the vehicle; and the vehicle controller configured to control, in accordance with the transportation plan, the vehicle to autonomously move to a position of a checkpoint at an entrance to a target highway port, and interact with a checkpoint controller (13) corresponding to the position of the checkpoint for autonomously passing the checkpoint; and control the vehicle to autonomously move from the position of the checkpoint to a specified loading/unloading position in the target highway port, and interact with a loading/unloading control apparatus (14) for autonomous loading/unloading at the loading/unloading position. The system, method and associated apparatus can achieve fully autonomous goods transportation, save transportation costs and reduce driving security risks.