Autonomous Vehicle Cluster Joining Mechanism for Passenger Socializing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems do not efficiently facilitate in-person socializing among passengers with different origins and destinations, as they require inconvenient route changes and multiple pickups/drop-offs, lacking the ability for spontaneous social interactions among travelers with shared interests.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system and mechanical joining mechanism that connect autonomous vehicles in motion, allowing passengers with overlapping routes and interests to socialize by planning and executing vehicle connections and separations while maintaining travel speed, using data modules to match passengers and manage connections through wireless communication and mechanical joining mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If autonomous vehicles make multiple pickups and drop-offs to accommodate passengers with different origins and destinations, then more passengers can be transported, but travel time increases and traffic flow is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transportation function by allowing vehicles to dynamically form clusters and separate into independent groups. Vehicles with overlapping routes connect to form a cluster for efficient group travel, while vehicles with diverging routes separate to maintain optimal travel times. This segmentation enables the system to transport multiple passengers without requiring all vehicles to make unnecessary stops for every passenger pickup and drop-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cluster system dynamically adjusts the composition and configuration of vehicle groups based on real-time route overlap analysis. The controller continuously monitors passenger destinations, vehicle positions, and route similarities to determine when vehicles should connect or separate. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to optimize both passenger capacity and travel time adaptively throughout the journey.
2Adaptability or versatility
If autonomous vehicles connect while traveling to facilitate socializing, then in-person social interaction is enabled, but vehicle control and connection reliability become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central controller as an intermediary that manages all connection and separation operations. The controller receives route information from vehicles, calculates route overlaps, and sends commands to execute connections or separations. This intermediary layer simplifies the complexity by centralizing the decision-making logic and providing a coordinated control mechanism, rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer negotiation between vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where vehicles report their positions, routes, and passenger information to the controller. The controller processes this feedback, determines optimal clustering opportunities, and sends control commands back to the vehicles. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable and safe connection operations by continuously monitoring system state and adjusting control decisions based on real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention describes a method, the information processing system and the autonomous vehicles that enable in-person socializing of passengers in multiple traveling autonomous vehicles. Under the collaborative control of one or more information processing system and on-bard controllers, multiple traveling autonomous vehicles carrying passengers who have matching interests or requests, overlapping travel routes and times are connected together mechanically while traveling at normal operating speed to establish a connected space to allow in-person interactions and socializing. A cluster of connected autonomous vehicles moves as one integrated vehicle.