Off-Road Drivable Area Mapping for Vehicle Routing Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Routing vehicles in off-road areas, particularly in quarries and muddy conditions, is challenging due to unpredictable obstacles like puddles and wheel tracks, leading to potential vehicle stalling and costly downtime.

Innovation Solution

A computer system that processes vehicle and map data to determine drivable areas and optimize routing trajectories, considering vehicle capabilities and obstacle data, reducing the risk of vehicles getting stuck or damaged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If vehicles operate in off-road areas with unpredictable obstacles, then operational flexibility is improved, but vehicle reliability deteriorates due to risk of getting stuck or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidvehicle reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary mapping and drivable area determination before vehicle operation. Obstacles are identified and classified in advance, and routing trajectories are pre-calculated based on vehicle capabilities and terrain conditions, preventing vehicles from encountering impassable obstacles during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously updates drivable area data based on vehicle position, terrain conditions, and obstacle detection. Routing trajectories are dynamically adjusted based on feedback from vehicle sensors and map data, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining vehicle safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If manual surveillance is used to avoid obstacles, then vehicle complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to operator workload and reaction time limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle complexityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle system performs self-navigation by automatically processing map data, determining drivable areas, calculating routing trajectories, and controlling vehicle movement without human intervention. This eliminates operator workload while maintaining high operational efficiency through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If pre-recorded routes are used for autonomous vehicles, then routing reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to handle unpredictable obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting reliabilityVSAvoidroute adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The routing system dynamically calculates drivable areas and generates routing trajectories based on real-time vehicle capabilities, terrain conditions, and obstacle data. The system adapts routing paths dynamically as vehicles move through the off-road area, combining the reliability of structured routing with the adaptability to handle unpredictable obstacles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4575401A1Mapping of off-road area
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 VOLVO AUTONOMOUS SOLUTIONS AB
  • EP4575401A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4575401A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4575401A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A computer system (100) comprising processing circuitry (110) is presented. The processing circuitry (100) is configured to obtain vehicle data (210) of a specific vehicle (10, 20, 30) and obtain map data (260) of a confined off-road area (1). The processing circuitry (100) is further configured to determine drivable area data (325) for the specific vehicle (10, 20, 30) within the confined off-road area (1) based on the vehicle data (210) and the map data (260); and provide the drivable area data (325) for routing of the specific vehicle (10, 20, 30) within the confined off-road area (1).