Inter-Vehicle Collision Risk Detection With Automatic Vehicle Type Setting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safe driving assistance technologies for large vehicles in severe environments like mines face challenges with initial device settings, device failures, and communication issues, leading to inefficiencies and user-unfriendliness, particularly when vehicles are not under fleet management control.

Innovation Solution

A safe operation assistance device that determines collision risk independently of vehicle type and environment, using onboard units with inter-vehicle communication and automatic unique information setting, allowing for continuous operation even without fleet management center connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If collision risk determination considers vehicle type differences, then collision prevention accuracy is improved, but initial setting time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision risk determination accuracyVSAvoidinitial setting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The determination device automatically acquires vehicle type information from the operation management system without requiring manual input. The system performs self-configuration by receiving vehicle type data through the communication interface, eliminating the need for operators to manually set vehicle type parameters during initial installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The operation management system serves as an intermediary that stores and provides vehicle type information. Instead of direct manual input to the determination device, the vehicle type data is transmitted through the communication interface from the operation management system, automating the information acquisition process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If information transmission goes through fleet management center, then centralized control is achieved, but information updating time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized control capabilityVSAvoidinformation updating speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The information transmission path is segmented into two modes: centralized transmission through the fleet management center for controlled environments, and direct peer-to-peer transmission between determination devices for rapid updates. This segmentation allows the system to select the appropriate transmission path based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between centralized and direct communication modes. When the determination device can directly acquire vehicle type information from other determination devices, it does so for faster updates; otherwise, it falls back to the fleet management center for centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If fleet management center communication is required, then centralized monitoring is improved, but system reliability in poor communication areas decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The determination device extracts the essential function of vehicle type information acquisition from the centralized fleet management center and implements it locally through direct communication with other determination devices. This extraction allows the system to operate independently in areas with poor communication infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The determination device is pre-configured with the capability to acquire vehicle type information through multiple channels. Before relying on fleet management center communication, the system can directly obtain information from neighboring vehicles, ensuring continuous operation even when centralized communication is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If operation management system control is mandatory, then fleet management efficiency is improved, but adaptability to uncontrolled vehicles decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefleet management efficiencyVSAvoidcompatibility with uncontrolled vehicles
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The determination device is designed with universal communication capabilities that work with both fleet management system-controlled vehicles and independent vehicles. The device can acquire vehicle type information from either the operation management system through the communication interface or directly from other determination devices, making it compatible with all vehicle types regardless of their control status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3503072B1Safe driving assistance device, operation management terminal, and safe driving assistance system
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3503072B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3503072B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3503072B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The safe operation assistance device 200 includes: a connecting destination detecting section 259 that detects and manages a connection state between the safe operation assistance device 200 and a connecting destination device; a unique information setting section 251 that sets unique information identifying a vehicle type of an own vehicle according to the connecting destination device; a positional information acquisition section 257 that acquires positional information of the own vehicle; an own vehicle information management section 252 that manages the positional information and the unique information of the own vehicle; an inter-vehicle communication section 255 that transmits the own vehicle information to other vehicle and acquires other vehicle information; and a risk determination section 254 that determines presence or absence of a collision risk between the own vehicle and the other vehicle using the own vehicle information and the other vehicle information.