Photo-Optical Vehicle Convoy Communication System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems for automated convoy driving, such as WLAN, face challenges with signal attenuation and interference, particularly at 5.9 GHz, which affect the safety and efficiency of communication in vehicle security systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing photo-optical, fiber-optic-free car-to-car communication using light wave emitters and receivers for contactless communication between vehicles, which can be more cost-effective and less prone to external interference, with the option of redundant radio-based communication for increased safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If WLAN communication at 5.9 GHz is used for car-to-car communication, then automated convoy driving can be implemented, but signal attenuation and interference occur affecting safety and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces radio wave-based WLAN communication with light-based photo-optical communication. This substitution of the physical medium (from electromagnetic radio waves to optical light waves) eliminates the harmful effects of radio frequency signal attenuation and interference at 5.9 GHz, providing more reliable communication for automated convoy driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of communication frequency from radio frequency (5.9 GHz) to optical frequency. This parameter change transitions the communication medium from radio waves to light waves, thereby avoiding the harmful effects associated with radio wave propagation in the vehicle environment while maintaining the automated convoy driving functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If photo-optical communication is implemented, then resistance to external interference improves, but device complexity increases due to light wave emitters and receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the light wave emitter into the existing brake light system and the light wave receiver into the existing daytime running light system. This multi-functionality approach allows the communication devices to serve dual purposes: traditional lighting functions and photo-optical communication functions, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high resistance to external interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the communication function with existing vehicle lighting systems. By merging the light wave emitter with the brake light and the light wave receiver with the daytime running light, the patent reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving robust interference resistance.
3Reliability
If specialized communication devices are used, then communication reliability improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing vehicle lighting systems serve dual functions: traditional safety lighting and photo-optical communication. This eliminates the need for specialized dedicated communication devices, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining high communication reliability through the robust photo-optical medium.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining communication functionality with existing lighting systems, the patent avoids the need for separate specialized communication devices. This merging approach reduces component count and manufacturing complexity, lowering costs while the photo-optical communication provides superior reliability compared to traditional radio-based systems.
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 approach enhances the safety and efficiency of automated convoy driving by providing reliable, low-latency communication with reduced costs and improved resistance to external interference, while allowing for bidirectional or unidirectional communication protocols.
Implementation Method 1
for at least part of the car-to-car communication a photo-optical, fiber-optic or optically fiberless car-to-car communication is used, which takes place in each case between a light wave emitter and a light wave receiver
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating in an at least largely automated fashion a non-track-bound column (1), composed of at least one vehicle (2) travelling ahead and at least one vehicle (4) which is coupled in a contactless fashion to the vehicle (2) travelling ahead and is directly following the vehicle (2) travelling ahead, wherein the at least one vehicle (4) directly following the vehicle (2) travelling ahead follows the vehicle (2) travelling ahead, by means of at least largely automatic open-loop/closed-loop control, and wherein a car-to-car communication between the vehicle (2) travelling ahead and the at least one vehicle (4) directly following the vehicle (2) travelling ahead takes place for this automatic open-loop/closed-loop control. The invention is characterized in that, for at least a part of the car-to-car communication, a photo-optical car-to-communication which has no optical waveguide or optical fibre is used, which communication takes place between an lightwave emitter (10) and a lightwave receiver (12).