Caravan Vehicle Ordering for Obstacle-Specific Route Traversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems lack an efficient method for determining the optimal vehicle ordering within a caravan to traverse obstacles along a route, considering the relative capabilities of each vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a wireless transceiver and sensors in an ego vehicle to receive capability information from other vehicles, determine performance rankings based on obstacle types, and utilize ordering strategies to define a vehicle ordering for traversing obstacles, ensuring that the most capable vehicles lead in scenarios requiring specific capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles traverse obstacles in a fixed or random order, then the caravan can maintain simple coordination, but the ability to handle diverse obstacle types efficiently is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle ordering within the caravan is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously evaluates obstacle types and vehicle capabilities to reorder vehicles optimally before each obstacle traversal. This dynamic reordering allows the caravan to adapt to diverse obstacle types (water crossings, rocky terrain, narrow paths) while maintaining manageable coordination through automated assessment and ordering strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ordering parameter of vehicles based on obstacle characteristics and vehicle capabilities. By evaluating capability information (such as water-fording ability, ground clearance, towing capacity) and matching it against obstacle types, the system optimizes the traversal order. This parameter-based ordering enables efficient handling of diverse obstacles without requiring complex manual coordination.
2Productivity
If capable vehicles are positioned to lead for each obstacle type, then traversal efficiency improves, but the time required to assess and reorder vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of vehicle capabilities and obstacle characteristics before the caravan encounters each obstacle. Capability information is collected and evaluated in advance, allowing the system to determine the optimal traversal order before actual obstacle confrontation. This preliminary ordering minimizes delays during actual traversal while ensuring efficient obstacle handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from obstacle detection (via sensors and imaging devices) and vehicle capability monitoring to continuously optimize the traversal order. As the caravan progresses and encounters different obstacle types, the system receives feedback about actual traversal conditions and vehicle performance, adjusting the ordering strategy accordingly. This feedback loop enables efficient adaptation without requiring complete reassessment from scratch.
Data Source
AI summary
A caravan is performed of a plurality of vehicles by an ego vehicle. An ego vehicle receives, in caravan messages via a wireless transceiver of the ego vehicle, capability information indicative of capabilities of the vehicles to traverse an obstacle along a route. Performance rankings that indicate relative capabilities of the vehicles per type of obstacle are determined based on the capability information. One or more ordering strategies are utilized to define a vehicle ordering for traversal of the obstacle along the route, the vehicle ordering being based on the performance rankings of the vehicles and the obstacle. The obstacle is traversed, by the caravan, according to the vehicle ordering.