RTK Hub GPS Correction for Golf Fleet Geofence Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing GPS systems in vehicles, such as golf carts, often experience GPS drift due to interference or obstructions, leading to inaccurate positioning and undesirable vehicle operation in restricted areas on golf courses, such as greens and tee boxes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a real-time kinematics (RTK) system with a fixed hub at a known location to correct GPS positions by comparing them to a reference point, ensuring accurate vehicle positioning and controlling operations based on corrected positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS positioning is used in vehicles on golf courses, then vehicle location tracking is enabled, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to GPS drift from interference and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RTK hub as an intermediary reference station with known precise location. The hub receives GPS signals and computes correction data based on its known position, then transmits these corrections to mobile devices. This intermediary system eliminates the need for vehicles to directly measure their position relative to course features, instead using corrected GPS data derived from the hub's known location and measured GPS readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing the vehicle's computed position (based on corrected GPS data) against the keep-out geofence boundaries. When the vehicle approaches or enters restricted areas, the system provides real-time feedback through warnings and operational limitations. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate position monitoring and enables dynamic response to geofence violations.
2Reliability
If keep-out geofences are enforced using GPS positioning, then restricted area protection is improved, but false restrictions increase due to GPS drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical GPS positioning with a computational geometry approach. Instead of relying on raw GPS coordinates that suffer from drift, the system uses the RTK hub's known precise location and computed correction data to determine vehicle position. The geofence enforcement then uses this corrected positional information combined with geometric calculations to accurately determine vehicle proximity to restricted areas, eliminating false restrictions caused by GPS inaccuracies.
3Measurement precision
If RTK system with known reference point is implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RTK hub serves multiple functions: it acts as a reference station with known precise location, receives GPS signals, computes position corrections, and transmits corrected data to mobile devices. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single hub unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy through the unified correction approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system includes a RTK hub, a vehicle, and one or more processing circuits. The RTK hub is configured to be positioned at a known location, and includes a first communications interface configured to facilitate acquiring a hub GPS position of the RTK hub based on a hub GPS signal acquired from a GNSS satellite. The vehicle includes a sensor configured to acquire a vehicle GPS position of the vehicle based on a vehicle GPS signal from the GNSS satellite and a second communications interface configured to facilitate communications between the vehicle and the RTK hub. The processing circuits are configured to determine corrective position data based on the hub GPS position and the known location, determine a corrective position of the vehicle based on the vehicle GPS position and the corrective position data, and control an operation of the vehicle based on the corrective position of the vehicle.