Autonomous Vehicle Routing With Beacon Redirection and Local Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous transportation networks rely on central control management, leading to communication bottlenecks, scalability issues, and inefficiencies, particularly in handling multiple vehicles and prioritization, and are not resilient to network failures or poor connectivity.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous transportation network where autonomous vehicles independently calculate routes using onboard processors and vehicle memory, with a control management center providing redirection information through beacons, reducing communication overhead and enabling vehicles to operate without constant central control communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If central control management is used to control autonomous vehicles, then coordination and route calculation can be centralized, but communication bottlenecks and network overload occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control system into distributed autonomous vehicles that each possess independent route calculation capabilities. Instead of one central controller managing all vehicles, each vehicle segments the control function and can independently calculate its own route using onboard processors and memory, thereby reducing the communication burden on the central system.
Solution Approach 2:
Autonomous vehicles are equipped with onboard processors and vehicle memory that enable them to independently calculate routes and make navigation decisions without constant central control intervention. This self-service capability allows vehicles to operate autonomously, reducing the need for continuous communication with the central management system.
2Extent of automation
If autonomous vehicles constantly communicate with central control management, then centralized coordination is maintained, but network reliability decreases under poor connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by equipping autonomous vehicles with onboard processors and vehicle memory before deployment. These components enable vehicles to pre-calculate routes and store navigation data locally, so that even when network connectivity is poor or lost, vehicles can continue to operate independently using pre-loaded information, thereby maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by enabling autonomous vehicles to function independently of the central control management network. This redundancy acts as a cushion against network failures, ensuring that vehicles can maintain their operations even when communication with the central system is interrupted or connectivity is poor.
3Productivity
If central control management handles all route calculations, then centralized optimization is achieved, but processing time and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the route calculation function from the central control management and distributes it to individual autonomous vehicles. Each vehicle's onboard processor independently calculates routes using stored geographic data, eliminating the need for time-consuming communication loops with the central system and reducing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
By enabling autonomous vehicles to perform their own route calculations using onboard processors and stored geographic data, the system eliminates communication delays associated with centralized processing. Vehicles serve themselves by independently determining optimal routes without waiting for central control responses.
4Quantity of substance
If autonomous vehicles operate independently without constant central control, then communication demands are reduced, but coordination and conflict resolution become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the route calculation and coordination functions into a unified system where autonomous vehicles use onboard processors to independently calculate routes while simultaneously considering the positions and routes of other vehicles. This integration allows vehicles to autonomously resolve conflicts and coordinate with each other without requiring constant central control intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where autonomous vehicles share their calculated routes and positions with the central control management and other vehicles. This feedback allows the central system to maintain an overview of network conditions and provide high-level coordination when necessary, while vehicles maintain independence for routine operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous transportation network (10) and method (100a, 100b, 100c) of operation is disclosed. The autonomous transportation network (10) comprises a plurality of autonomous vehicles (20) with an onboard processor (27) and vehicle memory (28) for locally calculating (240, 310) a route (50) between an origin (30) and a destination (40) and a vehicle antenna (25) for transmitting the calculated route (50). A control management center (100) comprises a control management processor (120) and a central memory (140) and independently calculates (250, 520) the routes (50) of the plurality of autonomous vehicles (20). A plurality of beacons (17) is connected to the control management center (100) and receives redirection information from the control management center (100) for transmission to one or more of the plurality of autonomous vehicles (20).