Fleet Vehicle Geofence Coordination Under Limited Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multiple vehicles at a worksite is challenging due to limited communication technologies, especially in areas with inconsistent or nonexistent cellular network coverage, leading to logistical difficulties, potential frustration, delays, and errors in task completion, and complications in maintaining fuel and charge levels.
Innovation Solution
A hub vehicle aggregates and disseminates information among remote vehicles, manages vehicle configuration, and facilitates cross-vehicle communication, acting as a centralized manager to ensure vehicles operate within defined geofences and power reserves, and synchronizes task lists among vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple vehicles are used in conjunction with one another, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vehicle control functions and communication capabilities into a unified fleet management system. Vehicles are merged into a coordinated fleet where they share information and resources, allowing them to work together on tasks that would be difficult for individual vehicles, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The fleet management system provides universal communication protocols and standardized interfaces that allow different vehicle types to interact through common channels. The system handles multiple functions including task coordination, resource sharing, communication relay, and collective decision-making, enabling diverse vehicles to operate together efficiently.
2Device complexity
If communication technologies are limited, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary communication mechanisms including relay vehicles that forward messages between vehicles with direct line-of-sight issues, and centralized fleet management servers that act as intermediaries for task coordination and information distribution. These intermediaries ensure complete information transfer even when direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication is blocked or unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication protocols, pre-coordinating tasks, and pre-distributing information before vehicles begin their operations. The fleet management system proactively manages information flow and anticipates communication needs, ensuring that all necessary information is available before critical operations begin.
3Device complexity
If vehicles operate independently, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles continuously report their status, location, and task progress to the fleet management system. The system processes this feedback and provides real-time guidance, coordination adjustments, and resource allocation decisions, enabling vehicles to optimize their operations dynamically and reduce delays through informed decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The fleet management system dynamically adjusts task assignments, resource allocation, and coordination strategies based on real-time vehicle status and environmental conditions. Vehicles can dynamically change their operational modes and coordinate their actions adaptively, allowing the fleet to respond efficiently to changing circumstances and minimize delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a fleet of vehicles is provided comprising receiving, from a first vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, first vehicle state information comprising a location of the first vehicle and receiving, from a second vehicle of the fleet of vehicles, second vehicle state information comprising a location of the second vehicle. The method further comprises generating a display comprising a first vehicle representation based on the location of the first vehicle, and a second vehicle representation based on the location of the second vehicle, and controlling the operation of the second vehicle within an area defined by an overlap of a second geofence based upon an energy estimate of the second vehicle with a first geofence based upon the first vehicle.