UAV Visual Navigation Guide for Driver Distraction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional route guidance systems require users to either listen to audible directions or glance at a screen, which can be distracting and impractical, especially in environments with poor GPS signal coverage, such as tunnels or densely populated urban areas.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as visual guides, which receive navigation instructions from a server and provide users with visual cues like LED displays or laser pointers to follow, reducing the need for auditory directions and minimizing screen distraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional route guidance systems use audible directions or screen displays, then users can receive navigation information, but user distraction increases and practicality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation information deliveryVSAvoiduser distraction and practicality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a UAV as an intermediary between the navigation system and the user. The UAV physically follows the user and displays directional arrows on its body, serving as a mobile visual guide that eliminates the need for screens or audible directions inside the vehicle, thereby reducing distraction while maintaining effective navigation information delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions navigation information from the traditional two-dimensional screen or audio space to a three-dimensional mobile platform (UAV) that moves with the user. The directional indicators are displayed on the UAV's exterior surfaces, creating a spatially distributed visual guide that the user can perceive without diverting attention from the road

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If GPS-based navigation systems are used, then routing information can be provided, but signal coverage is lost in tunnels or densely populated urban areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting information availabilityVSAvoidGPS signal coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV acts as a mobile intermediary that carries navigation information independently of GPS infrastructure. By following the user vehicle and displaying pre-calculated route directions through visual indicators on its body, the system maintains navigation reliability in GPS-denied environments where traditional satellite-based systems fail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electronic/GPS-based navigation system with a mechanical followship approach. The UAV physically tracks the user vehicle and provides continuous visual guidance through directional arrows displayed on its exterior, substituting the invisible electronic GPS signal with a tangible mechanical presence that works independently of satellite coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9534917B2Unmanned aerial vehicle navigation assistance

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

In an approach to providing navigation assistance, one or more computer processors receive a request for navigation assistance to a destination from a first user. The one or more computer processors dispatch a navigation assistance UAV to the first user. The one or more computer processors determine a route for the first user to follow to the destination. The one or more computer processors provide navigation assistance for the route to the first user using the navigation assistance UAV.