Depot Vehicle Coordination Using Functional Area Rules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated or semi-automated depots limit vehicle automation by rigidly specifying trajectories that vehicles may not be able to maintain or optimize for efficient operation, restricting movement and only focusing on driving dynamics between starting and target positions.
Innovation Solution
A method for coordinating vehicles within a depot by assigning functional rules to different areas, allowing vehicles to choose their own route while adhering to position-related and dynamic restrictions, eliminating the need for external trajectory specification and enhancing freedom of movement through defined functional areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If rigid external trajectory specifications are provided to vehicles, then coordination control is simplified, but vehicle movement flexibility and operational efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The depot is divided into multiple functional areas (e.g., loading areas, parking areas, transit areas), each with its own functional rules. Instead of providing a single rigid trajectory, the system segments the movement space and allows vehicles to independently plan paths through these segmented areas, thus simplifying coordination while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles are equipped with onboard control devices that autonomously determine trajectories by reading functional rules from the driving profile and calculating optimal paths themselves. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external trajectory management while allowing vehicles to adapt to changing conditions, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and movement flexibility.
2Measurement precision
If precise starting and destination positions are specified with fixed trajectories, then coordination precision is improved, but vehicle operational autonomy and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed trajectories to dynamic autonomous path planning. Vehicles continuously determine their trajectories based on functional rules and current conditions, allowing precise position specification through functional area boundaries while granting vehicles operational autonomy to adapt paths in real-time, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and autonomy.
3Reliability
If functional rules are applied to control vehicle systems in different areas, then safety and compliance are improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different functional rules are applied to different functional areas (e.g., speed limits in transit areas, loading/unloading restrictions in operational areas). This local differentiation ensures safety and compliance specific to each area's requirements while keeping the overall control system manageable through standardized rule application, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for coordinating a vehicle (3) in a depot (1), wherein the depot (1) is divided into several functional areas (Gi), and wherein the vehicle (3) is steered through at least some of the functional areas (Gi) into a defined target area (Z), comprising at least the following steps: - receiving a driving profile, wherein the driving profile includes a function rule, wherein each function rule is assigned to a functional area (Gi) in the depot (1) and the function rule determines how the vehicle (3) is steered and/or may not be steered in the respective functional area (Gi) in the depot (1); - while the vehicle (3) is steered through at least some of the functional areas (Gi) into the target area (Z): -- continuously determining a position of the vehicle (3) in the depot (1);-- Determining the functional area (Gi) assigned to the currently determined position of the vehicle (3) from the received driving profile; -- Reading the functional rule assigned to the determined functional area (Gi) from the received driving profile; and -- Controlling the vehicle (3) depending on the read functional rule such that the functional rule is implemented in the currently traversed functional area (Gi).;