Short-Range Peer-to-Peer Navigation for Concealed Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dynamic transportation networks that use personal mobility vehicles, requestors often face difficulties in locating the vehicle due to its concealed position, especially in environments where GPS signals are blocked by buildings or mountains, leading to increased travel time and frustration.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of peer-to-peer communications between a computing device coupled to the personal mobility vehicle and the requestor's device, using short-range communication protocols like Bluetooth or WiFi, to determine the vehicle's location through angle of arrival calculations and signal strength, providing precise directional information for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based location tracking is used to guide requestors to personal mobility vehicles, then location information can be provided over long distances, but GPS signals are blocked by buildings or mountains in urban environments, making it impossible to pinpoint the vehicle location when the requestor is nearby
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a short-range communication system as an intermediary between the personal mobility vehicle and the requestor's computing device. When GPS signals are blocked or when the requestor is within a threshold distance of the vehicle, the system switches to using short-range communications (such as Bluetooth or WiFi) to determine relative location. This intermediary system resolves the contradiction by providing accurate location data in environments where GPS fails, without compromising the overall location guidance functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the personal mobility vehicle is placed in concealed locations (behind buildings, in alleys) for operational flexibility, then the vehicle can be positioned at convenient locations for pickup, but the requestor cannot easily find the vehicle as they approach the designated location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computing device continuously determines the relative location of the requestor to the personal mobility vehicle using short-range communications and provides real-time directional guidance. As the requestor moves closer to the vehicle, the system updates the directional information to guide them to the exact concealed location. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation even when the vehicle is positioned in flexible, concealed locations that would otherwise be difficult to find.
3Reliability
If traditional GPS coordinates are used to indicate vehicle location, then the system works in open areas with clear sky view, but the coordinates become imprecise or unavailable when GPS signals are obstructed by urban structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for location determination based on environmental conditions. When GPS signals are available, the system uses GPS coordinates for location information. When the requestor approaches within a threshold distance or when GPS signals are blocked, the system transitions to using short-range communication parameters (signal strength, angle of arrival) to determine relative location. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by ensuring both reliability and measurement precision across different environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables requestors to accurately pinpoint the location of the personal mobility vehicle, reducing travel time and frustration by providing detailed, real-time directional guidance, even in areas with obstructed GPS signals.
Implementation Method 1
Based on the short-range communications, angle of arrival calculations using antenna elements included in the computing device may be used to determine a finer, more precise location of the personal mobility vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a measured strength of a signal between the requestor computing device and the personal mobility vehicle computing device may be correlated with a distance between the requestor computing device and the personal mobility vehicle computing device
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method may include determining a wireless identifier associated with a vehicle computing device coupled to a vehicle, transmitting wireless signals for receipt by an antenna included in the vehicle computing device, establishing a wireless connection to the vehicle computing device via one or more of the wireless signals using the wireless identifier, receiving, via the wireless connection, bearing information that indicates a bearing of the vehicle computing device relative to the requestor computing device, the bearing information being based on an angle of arrival of the one or more wireless signals received by the antenna, and displaying information describing a location of the vehicle relative to the requestor computing device based at least in part on the bearing information. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.