Unmanned Vehicle Navigation Using Fixed Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned vehicles relying on GPS for route navigation face limitations in avoiding obstacles and adapting to dynamic movements, especially when road information changes or vehicle speed varies, leading to potential deviations from the designated route.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that generate a travel route using fixed objects positioned in the vehicle's front direction, incorporating space information obtained from images or laser signals, and estimating traveling direction based on vehicle speed and rotation, allowing for dynamic route adjustments and obstacle avoidance without GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPS-based navigation is used for unmanned vehicles, then route following accuracy is maintained, but the vehicle cannot adapt to obstacles or changing road information
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is segmented into multiple independent modules: GPS-based route generation unit, space information obtaining unit, traveling direction estimating unit, and travel route generating unit. This allows the system to switch between GPS-based navigation and sensor-based adaptive navigation, resolving the contradiction by enabling both route following accuracy (when GPS is available) and adaptability to obstacles (when sensor data is used)
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its navigation approach based on real-time conditions. The travel route generating unit continuously updates the navigation path by combining GPS route information with real-time space information from sensors, allowing the vehicle to adapt to changing road conditions while maintaining overall route accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed travel route is prescribed for unmanned vehicle, then navigation simplicity is achieved, but the vehicle cannot avoid obstacles or adapt to dynamic movements
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is divided into distinct functional modules: space information obtaining unit (using sensors), traveling direction estimating unit (calculating direction based on sensor data), and travel route generating unit (creating adaptive routes). This segmentation allows obstacle avoidance functionality to be added without completely redesigning the navigation system, managing complexity through modular architecture
3Reliability
If GPS is used for position determination, then route navigation is simple, but the vehicle deviates when speed varies or obstacles appear
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges GPS-based navigation with sensor-based space information obtaining. The travel route generating unit integrates data from both GPS coordinates and real-time sensor measurements (laser signals and images) to generate reliable navigation paths that account for varying speeds and obstacles, improving navigation reliability under dynamic conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure and adaptable navigation for unmanned vehicles by extracting available travel spaces and generating routes based on external objects, improving marketability by eliminating GPS dependency.
Implementation Method 1
The space information obtaining unit may extract the fixed objects from an image obtained by photographing a front side of the driver's vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an image obtained by collecting laser signals emitted to the front side of the driver's vehicle and then reflected and returned
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an apparatus and a method of generating a travel route, which generate a travel route by using fixed objects positioned at a front side. The apparatus for generating a travel route includes: a space information obtaining unit configured to obtain information on a space, in which a driver's vehicle is allowed to travel, by using fixed objects positioned at both sides of the driver's vehicle; a travelling direction estimating unit configured to estimate a travelling direction of the driver's vehicle based on travelling information about the driver's vehicle and information on distances to the fixed objects; and a travel route generating unit configured to generate a travel route of the driver's vehicle based on the space information and the travelling direction of the driver's vehicle.