Convoy Travel Apparatus Sub-Convoy Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convoy travel systems are limited by the communication capacity of the leader vehicle, restricting the number of vehicles that can be part of a convoy, as follower vehicles directly receive travel information from the leader, which can lead to inefficiencies in organizing and controlling larger groups of vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A convoy travel apparatus with a control unit and wireless communication unit that organizes vehicles into sub-convoy structures, allowing for efficient communication and control beyond the capacity of a single leader vehicle by using sub-convoy IDs and leader information to manage vehicle travel and control within defined communication limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If follower vehicles directly receive travel information from the leader vehicle, then the convoy travel control can be performed with simple communication structure, but the number of vehicles in the convoy is restricted based on the communication capacity of the leader vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The convoy is divided into multiple sub-convoys, each with its own leader vehicle that directly communicates with follower vehicles. This segmentation allows the overall convoy to exceed the communication capacity of a single leader by distributing the communication load across multiple sub-convoy leaders, thereby increasing the total number of vehicles that can be managed while maintaining simple direct communication within each sub-convoy.
Solution Approach 2:
Sub-convoy leader vehicles act as intermediaries between the main convoy leader and follower vehicles. These intermediary vehicles receive travel information from the leader and relay it to followers in their respective sub-convoys, enabling extended convoy sizes beyond what a single leader could directly support while preserving the simplicity of direct communication patterns.
2Quantity of substance
If the convoy is divided into sub-convoy structures, then the number of vehicles that can be accommodated increases beyond communication capacity limits, but the communication and control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the convoy into sub-convoys with dedicated leader vehicles, the system distributes communication responsibilities across multiple nodes. Each sub-convoy leader manages only the vehicles within its sub-convoy, reducing individual communication loads and allowing the overall system to scale to accommodate more vehicles without requiring any single vehicle to handle excessive communication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Follower vehicles that are positioned at the front of sub-convoys can serve dual roles as both followers in the overall convoy and leaders of their respective sub-convoys. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of dedicated leader vehicles needed, thereby decreasing communication and control system complexity while still enabling the convoy to exceed the communication capacity of a single leader.
3Quantity of substance
If sub-convoy leader vehicles relay information from the leader, then the communication capacity is effectively extended to more vehicles, but the information transmission path becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The convoy is segmented into sub-convoys where each sub-convoy leader maintains direct communication with its follower vehicles. This segmentation ensures that while the overall information transmission path from the main leader to distant followers is extended, the critical control information paths within each sub-convoy remain short and direct, balancing extended reach with responsive control.
Solution Approach 2:
Sub-convoy leader vehicles are positioned strategically within the convoy structure in advance, and they pre-establish communication channels with their follower vehicles. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when travel information needs to be transmitted, the relay paths are already optimized and ready, minimizing actual transmission delays despite the extended overall path length.
Data Source
AI summary
A convoy travel apparatus transmits convoy travel information including a whole convoy ID and a sub-convoy ID when a subject vehicle is in a convoy travel state, and performs a convoy travel control by utilizing the sub-convoy ID. Further, a second vehicle of the whole convoy is a leader vehicle of a sub-convoy and is also a follower vehicle in a forward sub-convoy, thereby (i) determining the convoy travel control of itself by receiving the convoy travel information of the sub-convoy in which the subject vehicle is traveling as the follower vehicle and (ii) transmitting the convoy travel information including the content of the determined convoy travel control. Thus, the follower vehicle in the sub-convoy lead by the subject vehicle performs the convoy travel control based on the convoy travel information from the leader vehicle of the sub-convoy in which the subject vehicle is traveling as the follower vehicle.