Multi-Plane Raster Routing for 3D Terrain Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing route planning systems are inflexible and fail to accommodate both vehicle and pedestrian navigation scenarios, often prioritizing one mode of transportation over the other, leading to suboptimal or unsafe route generation.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system and method that generates routes using a raster-based map to account for three-dimensional structures, allowing for flexible switching between on-road and off-road terrain, and accurately directing travelers to endpoints of features like bridges and tunnels, while assigning relative preferences to terrain types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a vector-based route planning system is used, then route accuracy for vehicle navigation is improved, but digital storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-plane raster structure where the environment is divided into multiple discrete planes (e.g., ground plane, bridge plane, tunnel plane). This dimensional organization allows the system to represent three-dimensional structures in a two-dimensional raster format, achieving both compact storage and accurate route planning by assigning different terrain features to different planes rather than requiring complex vector data structures.
2Quantity of substance
If a raster-based route planning system is used, then digital storage requirements are reduced, but route accuracy for complex terrain decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environment into multiple discrete planes within the raster structure. Each plane represents a specific terrain type or elevation level (e.g., ground level, bridges, tunnels). This segmentation allows the system to maintain compact raster storage while accurately representing complex three-dimensional terrain features by distributing them across different planes, thereby resolving the limitation of traditional single-plane raster systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movement constraints are relaxed for vehicle navigation, then route flexibility is improved, but safety for pedestrian navigation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different movement constraints to different planes based on their terrain characteristics. For example, vehicles may be allowed to traverse multiple planes including bridges and off-road terrain, while pedestrians are constrained to ground-level planes only. This local differentiation of movement rules based on plane type and user category enables the system to provide flexible routing appropriate to each mode of transportation while maintaining safety by preventing pedestrians from being directed onto unsafe terrain.
4Reliability
If movement constraints are tightened for pedestrian navigation, then safety is improved, but route flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-plane raster structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it represents complex three-dimensional terrain, applies different movement constraints to different user categories, and provides optimized routing for various modes of transportation. By making the system universal in its ability to handle both vehicle and pedestrian navigation with appropriate constraints, it resolves the contradiction between safety and flexibility rather than requiring separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system and method distilling three-dimensional structure to a two-dimensional raster with multiple discrete planes for purposes of safe and accurate route planning including a map generator, pixel encoder, map transformer, and route generator. The map generator generates a raster map by populating a blank map canvas with raster and vector data on a per-pixel basis and obtains values for pixels from the pixel encoder. The pixel encoder encodes type, plane, and elevator information of features into pixels. The map transformer converts the map produced by the map generator into a weighted graph of nodes and edges suitable for route generation. The route generator generates routes using the graph produced by the map transformer.