Autonomous Vehicle User Location via Cellular Triangulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in accurately locating users and other objects within their surroundings, leading to inefficiencies in navigation and service delivery.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a computing system onboard an autonomous vehicle to obtain a unique identifier from a user device, triangulate signals to determine the user's location, and adjust the vehicle's route accordingly, enabling more precise user location determination and improved object perception within the vehicle's environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If autonomous vehicles use traditional sensor-based environment sensing, then they can navigate without human input, but they face challenges in accurately locating users and other objects within their surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cellular network infrastructure (base stations, towers) as an intermediary to assist autonomous vehicles in locating users. Instead of relying solely on vehicle-mounted sensors, the system uses existing cellular network elements to provide location data through triangulation and signal analysis, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the cellular network's existing communication infrastructure for a dual purpose: maintaining cellular service and providing location determination assistance to autonomous vehicles. This multi-functional use of existing infrastructure improves user location accuracy without requiring dedicated specialized equipment
2Productivity
If autonomous vehicles obtain detailed location data to improve service delivery, then navigation efficiency improves, but data processing and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary location data acquisition by continuously monitoring cellular network signals and maintaining location information in advance. This allows the autonomous vehicle to have location data readily available when needed, improving service delivery efficiency without requiring intensive real-time processing that would consume excessive energy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where location data obtained from cellular networks is continuously updated and refined. The system uses feedback from signal strength measurements and network communications to progressively improve location accuracy, enabling efficient service delivery while managing energy consumption through iterative refinement rather than exhaustive processing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining, by a computing system that includes one or more computing devices onboard an autonomous vehicle, data indicative of an identifier associated with a user device of a user. The identifier can be assigned to the user device by a cellular network. The method includes determining, by the computing system, location data associated with the user device based at least in part on the identifier associated with the user device. The method includes determining, by the computing system, a vehicle route based at least in part on the location data associated with the user device. The method includes causing, by the computing system, the autonomous vehicle to initiate travel in accordance with the vehicle route.