Convoy Formation Control Using Occupant State Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing convoy management systems cannot adjust the formation of a convoy of vehicles based on the states of occupants riding the vehicles, leading to suboptimal convoy control.

Innovation Solution

A convoy management device that includes processing circuitry to sense vehicles, detect behaviors of occupants, compute the optimal convoy formation based on occupant states, and control the convoy accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the convoy management system only uses sensor data from vehicles to manage convoy formation, then the system complexity is reduced, but the system cannot grasp occupant states and thus cannot implement appropriate convoy changes according to occupant situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvoy adjustment capabilityVSAvoidoccupant state information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sensors as intermediaries to detect occupant states (seating position, fastening status, presence) and converts this information into signals that the convoy management system can process. This mediator approach enables the system to grasp occupant situations without direct complex interaction, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring occupant states through sensors and using this information to dynamically adjust convoy formation. The occupant state information flows back to the management system, which then modifies convoy configuration accordingly, enabling adaptive convoy management that responds to real-time occupant situations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system monitors detailed occupant behaviors and interactions, then the appropriateness of convoy control is improved, but the device complexity and measurement difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvoy control appropriatenessVSAvoidsensing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by placing specific sensors at particular locations within the vehicle (seats, door regions) to detect specific occupant attributes (seating position, fastening status). Each sensor is optimized for its local detection task rather than using a single complex system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable convoy control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical observation methods with electronic sensors that automatically detect occupant states. Instead of mechanical systems to monitor occupant behavior, the patent uses electronic sensing elements that convert physical states (pressure, position, fastening) into electrical signals, simplifying the measurement system while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250118208A1Convoy management device and convoy management method

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A vehicle sensing unit to sense a plurality of convoy-management-target vehicles; an occupant state sensing unit to sense states of occupants riding the plurality of convoy-management-target vehicles sensed by the vehicle sensing unit; a convoy computing unit to compute a convoy of the plurality of convoy-management-target vehicles sensed by the vehicle sensing unit on the basis of a result of the sensing by the occupant state sensing unit; and a convoy control unit to control the convoy of the plurality of convoy-management-target vehicles sensed by the vehicle sensing unit on the basis of a result of the computation by the convoy computing unit are included.