Route Information Device Using Virtual Fatigue Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users struggle to intuitively recognize the labor required for traveling on a route when familiar indices are not used for comparison in existing route search services.
Innovation Solution
A route information providing device and method that acquires and compares route information based on travel difficulties and undulations, selecting a reference route closest in travel difficulty and topography, and providing users with intuitive information about the selected route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a route is searched and provided using generally famous indices as references, then the route information can be provided systematically, but the user cannot intuitively recognize the labor required for traveling on the route when the index is not familiar to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model (avatar) that copies and simulates the user's travel experience on the route. The avatar traverses the same path, experiences the same terrain conditions, and accumulates virtual fatigue that mirrors the user's actual physical effort. This allows users to intuitively understand route difficulty through the avatar's demonstrated struggle rather than abstract indices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/measurement-based route evaluation systems (distance, elevation gain, gradient percentages) with a biologically-inspired simulation system. Instead of displaying cold hard numbers, the system uses virtual physiological responses (fatigue accumulation, breathing rate, sweat) to convey route difficulty in human-understandable terms.
2Productivity
If traditional route comparison methods using famous indices are used, then route data can be processed efficiently, but the information does not help users intuitively recognize travel labor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the virtual avatar and fatigue simulation system) between the raw route data and the user interface. The avatar processes the route information through a biological model, translating efficient computational route analysis into intuitive visual representations of physical effort that users can immediately comprehend.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms traditional route parameters (distance, elevation, gradient) into new parameters that reflect human physiological response (virtual fatigue level, energy consumption, exertion intensity). This parameter transformation maintains processing efficiency while presenting information in a form that directly communicates travel labor to users.
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to make a user intuitively recognize labor of traveling on a route, a map information providing server (10) stores map data including an undulation of an actual topography, stores information on first routes each containing one or more routes from a point, as a start point, corresponding to information on the user in the map data, to a plurality of predetermined points in a region containing the point corresponding to the information on the user in the map data, in association with identification information on the user, determines a second route from a start point to an end point specified based on a request from the user, directly or indirectly compares a length of the second route and an undulation on the second route, and a length of each of the first routes and an undulation on each of the first routes with each other in the map data, and provides the user with information on a comparison result.