Shared Vehicle Geofencing and Locks for Parking Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Free-floating bike sharing systems face issues with indiscriminate parking, obstructing city appearance and traffic, and increased operational costs due to the need for continuous vehicle relocation, as well as user difficulties in finding bicycles at desired locations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling the position of shared vehicles within a service area using a computer program that utilizes electro-mechanical locks and GPS geofencing to guide cyclists into designated virtual parking areas, ensuring vehicles are parked correctly and available where needed, reducing costs and improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If free-floating bike sharing is implemented allowing random parking, then user convenience is improved, but city appearance and traffic flow deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The service area is segmented into multiple virtual parking areas with different priorities (first priority, second priority, third priority). Users are guided to park in higher priority areas first, and only when those are full can they park in lower priority areas. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing random parking into structured zones that maintain city appearance while preserving user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the service area are assigned different parking priorities based on local conditions. High-priority areas are located where parking is most beneficial for users and least harmful to city appearance, while low-priority areas are designated for situations where parking is less optimal. This local differentiation allows the system to adapt to varying local conditions throughout the city.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If continuous vehicle relocation is performed to improve parking positions, then city appearance is improved, but operating costs and pollution emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by guiding users to park bicycles in appropriate virtual parking areas during the hiring process itself. The central controller provides real-time guidance to users about available parking spots, ensuring bicycles are placed in suitable locations from the outset rather than requiring subsequent relocation. This prevents the need for continuous vehicle relocation by proactive user guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
Users are empowered to self-service by making informed parking decisions through real-time information from the central controller. The system provides users with knowledge about available parking areas, and users voluntarily park their bicycles in appropriate locations without requiring provider intervention. This self-service approach eliminates the need for provider-operated relocation vehicles and associated costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users are allowed to park bicycles anywhere in the service area, then user freedom is improved, but vehicle availability at desired locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller provides real-time feedback to users about the status of virtual parking areas (whether they are full or available). This feedback loop enables users to make informed decisions about where to park, ensuring they choose locations where bicycles will be available. The system dynamically updates users on parking area status, allowing them to adjust their choices accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the availability status of different virtual parking areas based on real-time conditions. As parking areas fill up, the system automatically updates their status and guides users to alternative areas. This dynamic adaptation maintains user freedom to choose parking locations while ensuring vehicle availability is preserved through real-time system response to changing conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
It is disclosed a system to control the position of a plurality of shared vehicles in a service area. The service area comprises at least one virtual free-floating parking area (2-1, 2-2), wherein the parking of the plurality of shared vehicles is authorized. The system comprises a mobile electronic device (3), a central controller (9), an electro-mechanical device (20) mounted on a shared vehicle and a means (29, 27) for blocking/unblocking the movement of the shared vehicle as a function of a command signal (SJk, S_drv_m). The mobile electronic device (3) is configured to transmit (t154, t52), towards the electromechanical device (20) or towards the central controller, a request message for parking the shared vehicle. The central controller (9) is configured to receive data representative of the geographical position of the shared vehicle inside the service area, is configured to receive, from the electro-mechanical device or from the mobile electronic device, the request message for parking the vehicle, and is configured to verify whether the vehicle is positioned inside the service area and whether it is positioned inside or outside the at least one virtual free-floating parking area. In case of detection of the vehicle inside the service area and inside a virtual free-floating parking area, the central controller (9) is configured to transmit (t156, t53), towards the electro-mechanical device or towards the mobile electronic device, a confirmation message of the enabling of the parking of the vehicle inside the virtual free- floating parking area. In case of detection of the vehicle inside the service area and outside the at least one virtual free-floating parking area, the central controller (9) is configured to transmit (t126, t23), towards the electro-mechanical device or towards the mobile electronic device, a parking disabling message indicative of a rejection of the request to park the vehicle outside the at least one virtual free-floating parking area. The electro-mechanical device is configured to receive, from the central controller or from the mobile electronic device, the confirmation message of the enabling of the parking and to generate therefrom the command signal representative of the blocking of the movement of the shared vehicle inside the virtual free-floating parking area. The electro-mechanical device is further configured to receive, from the central controller or from the mobile electronic device, the parking disabling message and to generate therefrom the command signal representative of an inhibition of the blocking of the movement of the shared vehicle outside the at least one virtual free-floating parking area.