Follower Vehicle Navigation Path to a Real-Time Leader Position

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Solution Overview

Problem

In group vehicle trips, drivers using individual navigation devices often cannot communicate safely and may lose sight of each other, leading to inconvenience and delayed assistance in case of accidents, as they need to coordinate routes and positions in real-time.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system where portable devices, connected to a cloud-based map-and-information system and vehicle instrument cluster devices, compute and display dynamic navigation paths from follower vehicles to a leader vehicle in real-time, allowing followers to reach the destination without setting their own routes and maintaining awareness of the leader's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If member drivers use individual navigation devices to acquire routes, then each driver can navigate independently, but they cannot communicate with each other in real-time and may lose sight of the group

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent navigation capabilityVSAvoidReal-time position information of group members
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines individual navigation devices with a group communication system. Each driver's portable device not only provides individual route navigation but also shares real-time position data with other group members through a server, merging independent navigation with group coordination capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback by continuously transmitting and receiving position data between all group members' portable devices. Each driver receives updates on the real-time positions of other group members, enabling immediate awareness and coordination without requiring direct visual contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If member drivers separate to follow individual routes, then each driver has route flexibility, but they cannot provide immediate assistance to each other in case of accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRoute flexibilityVSAvoidSafety assistance capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains reliability by implementing continuous real-time position feedback among all group members. Even when drivers follow different individual routes, the server continuously transmits position data, ensuring that any driver can immediately locate and assist others in case of emergencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that facilitates safety assistance capability. It collects position data from all portable devices and redistributes this information to all group members, enabling indirect awareness and coordination that maintains safety even when drivers are geographically separated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If drivers cannot communicate by phone or social networking software for safety reasons, then communication safety is improved, but route coordination becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCommunication safetyVSAvoidRoute coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server serves as a safe intermediary for route coordination. It receives position data from all portable devices and automatically processes and distributes this information to all group members, eliminating the need for direct driver-to-driver communication while maintaining effective route coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service route coordination where each driver's portable device automatically transmits their position data to the server and receives position data from other group members without requiring manual communication actions. The system performs the coordination function automatically, improving ease of operation while maintaining communication safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3534116B1Method and system for providing a dynamic navigation path of a follower device to the real-time position of the leader device
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 KWANG YANG MOTOR LTD
  • EP3534116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3534116B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3534116B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A navigation method is implemented by a group of portable devices (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) which are associated with a map-and-information system (71) and each of which is communicatively coupled to an instrument cluster device (5, 5a, 5b, 5c) of a respective vehicle (1, 1a, 1b, 1c). The group of the portable devices (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) includes a leader device (6a) and at least one follower device (6b, 6c). The map-and-information system (71) computes, for the follower device (6b, 6c), a dynamic navigation path from the follower device (6b, 6c) to the leader device (6a). The instrument cluster device (5b, 5c) of the vehicle (1b, 1c) that corresponds to the follower device (6b, 6c) perceivably outputs the dynamic navigation path.