Machine Navigation Integrity Checking via Position Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine navigation systems are prone to errors due to vibrations, collisions, and damage, requiring periodic integrity checks but are costly, complex, and may produce false alarms or fail to detect error drift over time.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that includes a single navigation unit with a controller that measures and estimates positions using existing sensors, compares the differences, and implements evasive actions based on thresholds to ensure accurate navigation and detect accuracy drift, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple satellite constellations are integrated to improve navigation reliability, then the system can provide continuous coverage and backup, but the complexity of integrating and managing multiple constellations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the navigation system into independent satellite constellation segments (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) that can be individually monitored and integrated. Each constellation is processed separately through its own signal processing chain, allowing manageable integration of multiple sources without overwhelming system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrity monitoring system is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple satellite constellations simultaneously. The same integrity checking algorithms and processing techniques are applied across all constellations, creating a unified management approach that reduces complexity despite handling diverse data sources
2Reliability
If advanced integrity monitoring techniques are implemented to detect and mitigate errors, then navigation safety is improved, but the computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary integrity monitoring and anomaly detection on satellite signals before they are fully processed for navigation solutions. By checking signal integrity early in the processing chain, the system identifies problematic signals upfront, preventing wasted computational effort on erroneous data and reducing overall processing time
Solution Approach 2:
When integrity issues are detected in certain satellite signals, the system quickly skips detailed processing of those compromised signals and relies on intact signals from other constellations. This selective bypassing allows the system to maintain navigation functionality with reduced processing burden when some signals are degraded
3Measurement precision
If selective availability and other degrading factors are addressed through robust monitoring, then navigation accuracy is maintained, but the complexity of error identification and mitigation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity monitoring system continuously provides feedback on signal quality and integrity status for each satellite constellation. This feedback mechanism enables real-time identification of accuracy-degrading factors such as selective availability, ionospheric disturbances, or satellite anomalies, allowing the system to adjust processing accordingly without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary integrity monitoring layer between the raw satellite signals and the final navigation solution. This intermediary component analyzes signal characteristics, detects anomalies, and filters problematic data before it affects navigation accuracy, simplifying the overall error mitigation process by centralizing the complexity in a dedicated monitoring module
Data Source
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AI summary
A navigation system (20) for a machine (12) is disclosed. The navigation system (20) may have a navigation unit (26) configured to measure a position of a machine (12) at a first time and at a second time, and at least a first sensor (30) configured to generate at least a first signal indicative of a speed and a heading of the machine (12) during a time period from the first time to the second time. The navigation system (20) may also have a controller (28) configured to estimate a position of the machine (12) at the second time based on the measured position of the machine (12) at the first time and the at least a first signal, and to make a comparison of the measured position of the machine (12) at the second time with the estimated position of the machine (12) at the second time. The controller (28) may also be configured to determine an integrity of the navigation unit (26) based on the comparison.