Lateral Vehicle Coordination Target Arrangement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current sensor configurations in vehicles primarily focus on front-facing sensors, lacking adequate support for autonomous vehicles to follow laterally displaced vehicles, which is essential for tasks like loading while in motion, without the need for additional lateral sensors.

Innovation Solution

A target arrangement is placed at a lateral distance from the leading vehicle, detectable by the follower vehicle's forwardly directed sensors, allowing the follower vehicle to adjust its position and velocity relative to the leading vehicle using existing sensors, thereby avoiding the need for additional lateral sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If forwardly directed sensors are used for detecting laterally displaced vehicles, then the need for additional lateral sensors is reduced, but the measurement precision for lateral position detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor configurationVSAvoidlateral position detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A target object is introduced as an intermediary between the leading and follower vehicles. The target is detectable by forwardly directed sensors and encodes lateral distance information, enabling indirect measurement of lateral position without requiring lateral sensors. This mediator transfers the measurement function from lateral sensors to forward sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The target object creates a detectable representation of the leading vehicle's lateral position. Instead of directly measuring lateral distance, the system uses forward sensors to detect the target's position and infers lateral information from this copied spatial relationship.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If sensors are placed laterally on the follower vehicle, then the ability to detect laterally displaced vehicles improves, but the vulnerability to environmental damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral position detectionVSAvoidsensor protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The target object serves as a protected intermediary that carries the lateral position information. By placing the detectable target on or near the leading vehicle rather than on the follower vehicle's lateral sensors, the system reduces exposure of sensitive sensors to environmental damage while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing sensors on the follower vehicle to detect the leading vehicle, the solution inverts the approach by placing a detectable target on the leading vehicle that can be detected by forward sensors on the follower vehicle. This reverses the detection geometry to protect sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional lateral sensors are added to the follower vehicle, then the coordination capability with laterally displaced vehicles improves, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordination capabilityVSAvoidsensor configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Forwardly directed sensors, originally designed for forward navigation and obstacle detection, are made multi-functional by enabling them to also detect the target object for lateral vehicle coordination. This eliminates the need for dedicated lateral sensors and reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

A target object is introduced as a communication intermediary that enables coordination between vehicles using existing sensor infrastructure. The target encodes positional information that allows follower vehicles to coordinate with leading vehicles without requiring additional specialized sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If GPS and radio systems are used for vehicle coordination, then the ability to maintain constant position improves, but the reliability when signals are disrupted deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition maintenanceVSAvoidsignal disruption vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicles use their own onboard forward sensors to detect the target and determine relative position, making the system self-sufficient and independent of external GPS or radio infrastructure. Each vehicle performs its own measurement rather than relying on centralized signal distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic communication systems (GPS, radio) with direct optical/mechanical detection using forward sensors and visual targets. This substitution provides a more reliable, infrastructure-independent method for position maintenance that works without signal infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11661087B2Target arrangement, method, and control unit for following a target vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 SCANIA CV AB

AI summary

Method, control unit, and target arrangement of a leading vehicle for triggering a follower vehicle, which is situated at a lateral distance from the leading vehicle, to coordinate its movements with the leading vehicle. The target arrangement comprises a target configured to be placed at a lateral distance from to the leading vehicle. The target is also configured to be recognized by at least one forwardly directed sensor of the follower vehicle.