Sub-fender GPS Antenna Mounting for Off-Road Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting GPS antennas on the exterior surfaces of agricultural vehicles detracts from their appearance and exposes them to dirt and debris, affecting their functionality and accuracy in autonomous navigation systems.
Innovation Solution
Positioning GPS antennas beneath the body of the vehicle, such as beneath fenders, with a coating on the outer surface that includes gaps to facilitate signal passage and protect the antennas from interference, while extending the body's top side to cover the antennas and enhance their positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS antenna is mounted on exterior surface of vehicle, then antenna is easily accessible and signals can be received, but vehicle appearance is degraded and antenna is exposed to dirt and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The GPS antenna is nested beneath the vehicle body, specifically under the fender or hood, rather than being mounted on the exterior surface. This nesting arrangement protects the antenna from dirt and debris while maintaining signal reception capability through the body material.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle body itself acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the GPS antenna. By positioning the antenna beneath the body, the body serves as a protective mediator that shields the antenna from harmful external factors while still allowing signal penetration.
2Ease of operation
If GPS antenna is mounted on exterior surface of vehicle, then antenna is easily accessible, but vehicle appearance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The GPS antenna is nested beneath the vehicle body, specifically under the fender or hood, rather than being mounted on the exterior surface. This nesting arrangement protects the antenna from dirt and debris while maintaining signal reception capability through the body material.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If coating is applied over GPS antenna, then antenna is protected from environment, but signal passage is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The coating applied over the vehicle body has different properties at different locations. At the GPS antenna location, the coating is either omitted or formulated to be transparent to GPS signals, allowing signal passage while maintaining environmental protection at other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating material properties are changed locally at the antenna position to allow GPS signal transmission. This may involve using a different material composition or thickness at the antenna location compared to other areas of the body.
Data Source
AI summary
An off-road vehicle includes a body having at least one fender positioned over at least one wheel or track of the off-road vehicle. The at least one wheel or track is configured to engage a ground surface. The off-road vehicle also includes at least one spatial locating antenna positioned beneath the at least one fender. A top side of the at least one fender is positioned above the at least one spatial locating antenna relative to the ground surface, and the top side extends beyond a lateral extent and a longitudinal extent of the at least one spatial locating antenna.