Handrail Influence Intensity Factor for Vehicle Navigation Drift Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS systems and vehicle navigation technologies face accuracy and reliability degradation due to insufficient data and interference, leading to unacceptable drift in location and heading measurements, which current solutions fail to correct effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a computing device that calculates a 'handrail influence intensity factor' by determining the vehicle's current location, retrieving map data, identifying intersecting and closest roads, determining vehicle heading, and adjusting for drift by calculating the difference between the vehicle heading and relative target headings of candidate roads, using a system with multiple sensors and communication interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS data is used to determine vehicle location and heading, then navigation functionality is provided, but accuracy and reliability degrade when GPS data is insufficient or interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces map data and road geometry information as an intermediary system to mediate between GPS data and the final location/heading determination. When GPS data is insufficient or interfered with, the handrailing system uses the vehicle's proximity to roads and map features as a reference framework to correct drift and maintain accurate navigation, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability under GPS interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the determined vehicle location and heading are continuously compared against map data and road geometry. The handrailing system calculates drift based on this comparison and applies corrections to the sensor readings, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains accuracy and reliability even when GPS data is compromised
2Measurement precision
If sensor readings are corrected to fix current location drift, then current location accuracy improves, but underlying sensor readings remain erroneous causing future drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by correcting the underlying sensor readings (heading and location) before future measurements are taken. The handrailing system calculates the drift in the sensor readings and applies a correction factor to the sensor data, not just to the current location display. This preliminary correction of the sensor readings ensures that future location determinations are based on corrected data, preventing future drift while maintaining current accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical/sensor-based location determination with a hybrid system that substitutes map data and geometric calculations for the erroneous sensor readings. Instead of relying solely on the vehicle's sensors which drift over time, the system substitutes reference to the stable map database and road geometry, replacing the unreliable mechanical sensing with a more reliable information-based approach
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dynamically computing a handrail influence intensity factor includes the steps of identifying a current location of a vehicle, retrieving map data of an area corresponding to the current location of the vehicle, identifying a current road of the vehicle based on the map data and the current location of the vehicle, determining at least one of one or more roads that intersect the current road and one or more roads closest to the current road, retrieving a vehicle heading for the vehicle, determining a set of candidate roads, determining a relative target heading for each candidate road in the set of candidate roads, calculating a handrail influence intensity factor based on a distance between the current location of the vehicle and a closest point on each candidate road and based on a difference between the vehicle heading and the relative target heading for each candidate road.