Traffic Light GPS Positioning for Temporary MAP SPaT Messages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems face challenges in detecting and providing reliable MAP and SPaT messages for newly established traffic lights, particularly those temporarily set up at construction sites, as they are not recorded in digital maps used by autonomous vehicles, leading to confusion with rear lights of other vehicles at night.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a global positioning system to determine the position of each traffic light, assign it to corresponding traffic lanes in a digital street map, and generate and broadcast MAP and SPaT messages based on traffic light phase plans or current phases, enabling vehicles to receive this information via V2X technology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traffic lights are only permanently established and recorded in digital maps, then map reliability is improved, but adaptability to temporarily established traffic lights deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemap reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to temporarily established traffic lights
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by equipping traffic lights with GPS receivers before they become operational, so that position data is already available when the traffic light is established. This allows temporarily established traffic lights to be quickly integrated into the digital map system without requiring post-installation surveying or manual entry, thus maintaining map reliability while improving adaptability to temporary installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The traffic light system serves itself by using its own GPS receiver to automatically determine and transmit its position to the server. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual position entry or external surveying equipment, enabling temporary traffic lights to automatically register themselves in the digital map system, thereby improving both adaptability and maintaining reliability through automated position verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If traffic lights are equipped with GPS receivers and automatically register positions, then adaptability to temporary traffic lights is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to temporary traffic lightsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The GPS receiver is integrated into the existing traffic light control unit, making the control unit multi-functional by combining traffic signal control with position determination capabilities. This universal approach avoids adding separate dedicated GPS hardware, thereby improving adaptability to temporary traffic lights while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that receives position data from traffic lights via communication modules and automatically integrates it into the digital map system. This intermediary approach simplifies the traffic light device itself, as the complex tasks of position verification, map updating, and data management are handled by the external server, thus improving adaptability without significantly increasing on-site device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If MAP and SPaT messages are generated for temporarily established traffic lights, then detection reliability for autonomous vehicles is improved, but information processing complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server serves as an intermediary that automatically generates MAP and SPaT messages by integrating GPS position data with existing digital map information and traffic light phase plans. This intermediary approach allows complex message generation and verification processes to be centralized on the server, improving detection reliability for autonomous vehicles while avoiding the need for complex processing equipment at each traffic light location or in each autonomous vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the server verifies the plausibility of generated MAP and SPaT messages against the digital map database and traffic light operational parameters. This feedback loop ensures high detection reliability by automatically detecting and correcting inconsistencies, while the automated nature of the feedback process prevents significant increases in information processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3905218B1Method and system for providing map and spat messages for a newly established set of at least one traffic light
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3905218B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing MAP and SPaT messages (15,16) for a newly established set (2) of at least one traffic light (3), wherein a position (13) of each of the at least one traffic light (3) within the set (2) is determined by a global positioning system (7), wherein the determined positions (13) are assigned to corresponding traffic lanes of at least one street in a digital street map by a processing device (5), wherein a MAP message (15) is generated based on the digital street map, wherein the generated MAP message (15) comprises the assignments, wherein at least one SPaT message (16) is generated based on a traffic light phase plan (20) of the at least one traffic light (3) or at least one SPaT message (16) is generated based on the information of the current phase of the at least one traffic light (3), and wherein the generated MAP and SPaT messages (15,16) are broadcasted by the set (2) of the at least one traffic light (3). Further, the invention relates to a corresponding system (1), a traffic light (3), and a backend server (4).