Vehicle-Object UWB Trilateration for Precise Relative Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems in navigable topography face challenges in achieving accurate position determination of movable objects relative to a vehicle, particularly in complex environments like underground parking facilities, where traditional methods like field strength measurement and time-of-flight distance determination are limited in accuracy and applicability.
Innovation Solution
The integration of communication beacons with metadata storage and ultra-wideband communication, enabling precise distance determination through trilateration and simultaneous exchange of metadata for enhanced position and orientation calculation, allowing for accurate navigation and positioning even during charging processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If field strength measurement is used to determine object location, then the system can determine whether the object is inside or outside the vehicle, but the measurement precision is insufficient for accurate navigation in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces field strength measurement with time-of-flight (TOF) distance measurement using radio waves. Instead of measuring electromagnetic field strength, the system measures the time it takes for radio waves to travel between communication units, providing much higher precision (20-70 mm) for position determination in complex environments like underground parking facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from field strength to time of flight. By measuring the time duration of radio wave transmission rather than the strength of the field, the system achieves significantly improved measurement precision while maintaining reasonable system complexity through the use of standard communication units.
2Measurement precision
If time-of-flight distance determination is used, then distance measurement accuracy improves, but the system lacks metadata exchange capability for enhanced position and orientation calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges distance determination with metadata exchange by having communication units perform both functions simultaneously. While measuring time of flight for precise distance calculation, the system also exchanges metadata including position information, orientation data, and identification codes, eliminating information loss and enabling comprehensive navigation and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication units are designed to perform multiple functions: they measure time of flight for distance determination, exchange metadata for position and orientation calculation, and provide identification for authorization. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by ensuring that distance measurement accuracy is achieved without losing any relevant information.
3Measurement precision
If trilateration is used with multiple communication units for position determination, then position accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning system into multiple distributed communication units placed at different locations. Each unit independently performs TOF measurements and metadata exchange, and the data processing unit combines these segmented measurements through trilateration to achieve high position accuracy (20-70 mm) while keeping individual unit complexity low.
4Measurement precision
If communication beacons transmit metadata during communication, then navigation accuracy in complex topography improves, but the use of energy by stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication beacons transmit metadata periodically during communication events rather than continuously. This periodic transmission provides the necessary navigation accuracy information when needed while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission, resolving the contradiction between navigation accuracy and energy usage.
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 solution achieves position determination with an accuracy of 20-70 mm, enabling improved navigation and positioning within complex topographies, including underground parking facilities, and allows for decoupling power transfer during charging, facilitating precise vehicle maneuvering and orientation determination.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one vehicle-side communication unit and at least one object-side communication unit are designed as distance measuring communication units, determining the distance between them by determining the time of flight (TOF)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for determining the position of an object (14, 26, 30, 32, 38), which can be moved relative to a vehicle (10), wherein at least one vehicle-side communication unit (16) is arranged on the outside of the vehicle and communicates with at least one object-side communication unit (18) via radio waves, and wherein the at least one vehicle-side communication unit is coupled to a data processing unit which is designed to determine the position of the object relative to a coordinate system fixed to the vehicle based on the communication signals. The communication units are designed as distance measuring communication units in order to determine the distance between them by determining the time-of-flight (TOF), and the data processing unit is designed to determine the position of the object in the coordinate system based on at least two distance values determined by means of the communication between at least three communication units by means of trilateration. According to the invention, the communication units are designed to exchange with one another vehicle-specific metadata, in particular acceleration, speed or driving trajectory data, or object-specific metadata, such as location information of stationary objects.