Mobile Body Position Control Using Landmarks and Transmitters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location estimation methods for working machinery using GPS signals face challenges in areas with unsatisfactory reception environments, and internal sensors experience increased positioning errors with distance from reference locations.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus and program that utilize image capturing sections to recognize landmarks and reception sections to receive signals from transmitters, allowing for precise location estimation through relative locational relationships, even in areas with poor GPS reception, by adjusting sensor controls and referencing movement history for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS signals are used for location estimation, then autonomous navigation is enabled, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in areas with unsatisfactory reception environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location estimation methods (GPS-based estimation, landmark-based estimation, and transmitter signal-based estimation) into a unified system. The control device selects and switches between different estimation methods depending on the reception environment, thereby maintaining both autonomous navigation capability and positioning accuracy across various conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the estimation parameters by switching between different location estimation approaches based on GPS signal quality. When GPS reception is unsatisfactory, the system transitions to using landmark images and transmitter signals as alternative parameters for accurate location determination.
2Ease of operation
If internal sensors are used for location estimation, then autonomous movement is achieved, but positioning error increases with distance from reference locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces external reference objects (landmarks and transmitters) as intermediaries to correct and refine the location estimates derived from internal sensors. These intermediaries provide absolute position references that compensate for the cumulative errors inherent in sensor-based dead reckoning over distance.
3Measurement precision
If multiple location estimation methods are combined, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic selection of location estimation methods based on real-time assessment of GPS signal quality and availability of alternative references. The control device adaptively switches between estimation approaches, maintaining high positioning accuracy while avoiding the constant overhead of running all methods simultaneously, thus managing system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Even in a case where positioning precision of positioning using a GPS signal or output data of an internal sensor is low, a location is precisely estimated. For example, a location of a moving object is estimated based on a relative locational relationship between at least two landmarks or at least two transmitters and the moving object. The location of the moving object may also be estimated based on a relative locational relationship between at least two parts of a single landmark and the moving object. The location of the moving object may also be estimated based on a relative locational relationship between a single transmitter that has output two signals and the moving object. The location of the moving object may also be estimated based on a relative locational relationship between each of at least one landmark and at least one transmitter, and the moving object.