UAV GPS Relay Positioning for Urban Vehicle Signal Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
GPS signals are prone to blockages in urban environments, leading to degraded accuracy and potential vehicle collisions due to reliance on GPS for navigation in V2X applications like lane changing and remote driving.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used to maintain GPS line of sight connection by communicating with vehicles and satellites, providing accurate positioning through short-range communications, and switching between base stations to ensure continuous GPS assistance as vehicles move through blocked areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signals are used for vehicle positioning, then positioning data can be obtained, but signal blockages occur in environments like stacked highways and urban canyons leading to degraded accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UAV as an intermediary relay station between GPS satellites and vehicles. The UAV receives GPS signals from satellites and retransmits them to vehicles in blockage areas, acting as a mediator that bridges the communication gap when direct satellite-vehicle signals are blocked by buildings or terrain
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the GPS signal reception from a ground-based two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional aerial dimension. By deploying the UAV into the air space above blockage areas, the system creates a new spatial dimension for signal transmission that bypasses ground-level obstructions like buildings and stacked highways
2Measurement precision
If a UAV is deployed to provide GPS signals in blocked areas, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a mobile GPS signal relay station and potentially as a V2X communication node. This universal design allows the same platform to perform multiple functions including GPS signal reception, signal retransmission, and vehicle communication, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through autonomous UAV operation where the UAV automatically navigates to positions above blockage areas, autonomously receives GPS signals, and continuously retransmits them to vehicles without requiring manual intervention. The base station also autonomously manages UAV deployment and coordination
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for improving a vehicles access to GPS signals are discussed herein. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be configured to communicate with the vehicle, such as a V2X capable vehicle, and provide GPS line of sight connection to a GPS satellite, thereby avoiding any blocking issues while maintaining accurate positioning of the vehicle on the ground. Short-range communications (e.g., Wi-Fi, PC5, unicast, etc.) may be used to provide the connectivity between the vehicle and the UAV. In some cases, a vehicle may drive into a designated area and the UAV and/or the vehicle may initiate connectivity with the other and start UAV assisted positioning services within the designated area.