3D Compass Overlay for Vehicle Navigation Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle operators face disorientation and navigation challenges in unfamiliar or poorly visible environments due to the difficulty in assimilating two-dimensional compass information within three-dimensional graphical displays, which do not adequately depict the vehicle's location relative to terrain features.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a three-dimensional display unit to overlay a three-dimensional compass onto a graphical representation of the terrain, with the compass positioned to represent the vehicle's location, enhancing the operator's ability to correlate heading information with the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a two-dimensional compass card is overlaid on a three-dimensional terrain display, then heading information is provided to the operator, but the operator finds it difficult to assimilate and utilize the heading information effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional two-dimensional compass card into a three-dimensional compass display that is integrated with the three-dimensional terrain representation. This dimensional change allows the compass to be visually correlated with the terrain features and vehicle position, making it easier for operators to assimilate heading information without cognitive dissonance between 2D and 3D perspectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the compass display with the three-dimensional terrain representation by positioning the compass at the vehicle's location on the terrain model. This integration combines heading information with spatial context, allowing operators to simultaneously perceive both terrain features and directional orientation in a unified three-dimensional view.
2Device complexity
If existing displays do not include a graphic indication of the vehicle location, then the display complexity is reduced, but the operator's orientation and ability to correlate compass heading with terrain is hampered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vehicle location indication with the three-dimensional compass display by positioning the compass at the vehicle's location on the terrain model. This integrated approach provides clear spatial reference without adding separate, complex display elements, as the compass position itself serves as the location indicator.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional compass serves as an intermediary element that simultaneously provides heading information and vehicle location indication. By positioning the compass at the vehicle's location on the terrain model, it mediates between the operator and the terrain display, providing both orientation and position context in a single integrated display element.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for enhancing a vehicle operator's orientation and ability to navigate a vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a display unit, a data storage unit, a position determining unit and a processor communicatively connected to the display unit, the data storage unit and the position determining unit. The processor is configured to obtain a position and heading of the vehicle from the position determining unit, to obtain terrain data from the data storage unit, and to control the display unit to display a three-dimensional representation of a terrain representative of an actual terrain proximate the vehicle. The processor controls the display unit to overlay a three-dimensional compass onto the three-dimensional representation of the terrain to display both the heading of the vehicle and the location of the vehicle with respect to the actual terrain.