Sensor Power Management for Vehicle Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Positioning systems, such as GPS, consume excessive battery power and fail to accurately determine vehicle position and heading in poor signal environments due to the need for auxiliary sensor calibration, which requires line-of-sight access to positioning signals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power management system that activates and calibrates auxiliary sensors just before entering a poor signal environment and deactivates them upon exiting, using a signal quality monitor and auxiliary controller to determine environmental changes and manage sensor power accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If auxiliary sensors are kept active continuously, then positioning accuracy in poor signal environments is maintained, but battery power is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration of auxiliary sensors before entering poor signal environments by monitoring signal quality metrics. When signal degradation is detected, the system proactively activates and calibrates sensors (accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer) in advance, ensuring they are ready for immediate use when GPS signals are lost, rather than waiting until accuracy degradation occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of signal quality metrics (satellite visibility, signal strength, dilution of precision) and periodically activates auxiliary sensors based on these assessments. This periodic evaluation allows the system to switch between GPS-only mode and sensor-fusion mode appropriately, consuming power only when necessary for maintaining positioning accuracy
2Use of energy by moving object
If auxiliary sensors are activated only when needed, then battery power is conserved, but positioning accuracy may be compromised during sensor calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration of auxiliary sensors before entering poor signal environments by monitoring signal quality metrics. When signal degradation is detected, the system proactively activates and calibrates sensors (accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer) in advance, ensuring they are ready for immediate use when GPS signals are lost, rather than waiting until accuracy degradation occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors signal quality metrics (satellite visibility, signal strength, dilution of precision) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust sensor activation and calibration timing. This feedback loop ensures sensors are activated at the optimal moment - early enough to complete calibration but not so early as to waste power - thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while minimizing power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product to provide accurate positioning of a vehicle while conserving power is provided. The system includes a receiver configured to receive a positioning signal that determines a position of the vehicle and an auxiliary sensor configured to provide data to supplement the positioning signal so as to provide the position of the vehicle more accurately than with using solely the positioning signal. The system also includes an auxiliary controller coupled to the auxiliary sensor. The auxiliary controller is configured to generate a first signal to power-up the auxiliary sensor if the vehicle is proximate to entering an area that reduces accuracy of the positioning signal, and calibrate the auxiliary sensor prior to the vehicle entering the area; and generate a second signal to power-down the auxiliary sensor if the vehicle is proximate to exiting the area.