Vehicle UWB Anchor Selection for Accurate Low-Energy Trilateration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems using digital keys face inefficiencies in determining the location of mobile devices for features like unlocking and remote park assist, particularly in congested spaces with high UWB noise, due to the energy and processing burdens of using all Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a search strategy that selectively uses subsets of UWB anchors based on activatable features and energy availability, allowing for tailored performance and reducing energy consumption and processing burdens while maintaining accurate location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all UWB anchors are used simultaneously to determine mobile device location, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UWB anchor system by dividing all anchors into multiple subsets that are activated sequentially or selectively based on current operational needs. Instead of using all anchors simultaneously, the system activates only the necessary subset for each location determination task, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision through adequate subset selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic anchor subset selection where the active UWB anchors are adjusted in real-time based on current operational requirements, battery energy levels, and environmental conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between measurement precision and energy consumption by activating only the necessary number of anchors at any given moment.
2Measurement precision
If all UWB anchors are used simultaneously, then location determination accuracy is improved, but processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational workload by dividing anchor processing into separate subsets. Each subset is processed independently, reducing the complexity of simultaneous multi-anchor processing. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate location determination through coordinated subset processing while avoiding the excessive processing burden of handling all anchors at once.
3Reliability
If more UWB anchors are used, then reliability of location determination is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by activating only the minimum necessary subset of UWB anchors required to achieve sufficient location determination reliability for the current task. Rather than continuously using all anchors, the system dynamically adjusts the number of active anchors to match the actual reliability needs, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate reliability.
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
This approach enhances the efficiency and accuracy of location determination for digital key unlocking and remote park assist by optimizing the use of UWB anchors, reducing energy consumption and improving performance in congested environments.
Implementation Method 1
The computer uses the UWB anchors to determine distance data, which may include distances between the mobile device and the respective UWB anchors, e.g., based on time-of-flight data between the mobile device and the UWB anchors.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable to determine a currently activatable feature on a vehicle from a plurality of features; establish negotiations between each of a plurality of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors of the vehicle and at least one mobile device; select a search strategy based on the currently activatable feature; upon selecting the search strategy, during a search iteration, determine distance data to at least one mobile device from a subset of UWB anchors, and inhibit a remainder of the UWB anchors other than the subset; perform a trilateral calculation on the distance data for the mobile device; and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the currently activatable feature based on a result of the trilateral calculation.