Dead Reckoning Navigation Using OBD Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation devices face issues with accurate positioning when GPS signals are lost, such as in tunnels or near tall buildings, leading to erroneous displays and user confusion, and previous attempts at dead reckoning using accelerometers result in short-term accuracy and significant errors.

Innovation Solution

A navigation device that includes a processor to track its path using GPS signals and calculate its position using on-board diagnostics data from the vehicle, such as speed and steering wheel position, when GPS signals are unavailable, and displays both tracked and calculated positions distinctly on a graphical user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS signals are used for navigation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but positioning reliability deteriorates when signals are blocked (e.g., in tunnels or near tall buildings)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines GPS satellite-based positioning with on-board diagnostics (OBD) dead reckoning into a unified navigation system. The processor integrates data from both sources, using GPS when available and OBD when GPS signals are blocked, thereby maintaining both high positioning accuracy and continuous reliability across all operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate in GPS-mode using satellite signals, switch to OBD-mode using vehicle sensor data, or operate in combined-mode integrating both sources. This multi-functionality ensures the system maintains reliability across diverse environments while preserving measurement precision when GPS is available

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If accelerometer-based dead reckoning is used to maintain positioning when GPS is unavailable, then positioning continuity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to double integration errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning continuityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces on-board diagnostics data (vehicle speed, steering angle, odometer information) as an intermediary measurement source between GPS updates. Instead of relying solely on accelerometer double-integration, the system uses these more accurate vehicle parameters to calculate position, thereby maintaining positioning continuity while significantly reducing integration errors and improving overall measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the parameters used for dead reckoning based on availability and quality of data sources. When GPS is unavailable, it switches from accelerometer-only double integration to using OBD parameters (speed, steering angle, wheel rotation) which require fewer integration steps and produce more accurate results, thus maintaining both continuity and precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If only tracked position is displayed, then user interface simplicity is improved, but information completeness deteriorates when GPS signals are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface simplicityVSAvoidnavigation information completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the position display into two distinct components: tracked position (from GPS) and calculated position (from OBD dead reckoning). The graphical user interface displays both positions with different visual characteristics, allowing users to understand which positioning source is active and maintaining information completeness while preserving interface clarity through deliberate visual differentiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of information

If both tracked and calculated positions are displayed, then information completeness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation information completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor is designed to universally handle multiple positioning modes (GPS-only, OBD-only, combined) and automatically manage the complexity of integrating and displaying both tracked and calculated positions. This multi-functional design consolidates the complexity management into a single control unit, improving information completeness while preventing system complexity from becoming unmanageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9574891B2Navigation device for dead reckoning

Publication Date: 2017.02.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A navigation device is provided that includes a processor configured to track a path of the navigation device based on a first signal received by the navigation device, and calculate a calculated position of the navigation device based on a second signal different from the first signal. The navigation device may further include a graphical user interface configured to display a calculated position graphical element representing the calculated position determined based on the second signal and display a tracked position graphical element representing the path of the navigation device determined based on the first signal, the tracked position graphical element and the calculated position graphical element being distinguishable in appearance.