Vehicle Distance Calculation Offset Error Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation systems using acceleration sensors for distance calculation during GPS failures suffer from significant offset errors, leading to inaccurate distance determination due to changing offset values and inclines, which result in incorrect speed and distance measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method that corrects the offset error by extrapolating speed from a 'last' measured value before GPS failure, determining the deviation when GPS is available again, and using this to calculate a better offset value, which is then used for accurate speed profiling and distance calculation, reducing errors through algebraic correction formulas and a second-order polynomial offset estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If acceleration sensors are used for distance calculation during GPS failure, then vehicle-independent measurement is achieved, but offset errors cause significant measurement inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle-independent measurementVSAvoiddistance calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from GPS measurements before and after the failure period to estimate and compensate for offset errors in the acceleration sensor data during the GPS failure period, thereby maintaining measurement precision while keeping the system vehicle-independent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary estimation of offset values using acceleration sensor data before GPS failure occurs, and continues to update these estimates using data from after the failure period, allowing accurate distance calculation throughout the entire failure duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If constant offset value is used for acceleration sensor compensation, then calculation simplicity is maintained, but changing offset values cause continued measurement drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation complexityVSAvoidspeed and distance determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from using a constant offset value to a time-dependent offset estimation that dynamically adapts to changing conditions during GPS failure, improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable calculation complexity through continuous estimation updates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the offset parameter from a static constant to a dynamic time-dependent value that is continuously estimated and updated during the GPS failure period, allowing the compensation to adapt to changing offset conditions and eliminate measurement drift

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If linear distance between GPS positions is used during failure, then calculation is simple, but the measured distance is always less than or equal to actual distance covered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation simplicityVSAvoiddistance measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the simple linear distance calculation between GPS positions with a more sophisticated method using acceleration sensor data integration, allowing accurate measurement of the actual path distance covered during GPS failure while maintaining calculation feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 significantly reduces offset-related errors, ensuring accurate distance and speed estimation during GPS outages, even in complex terrain, and prevents implausible speed estimates, thereby improving the accuracy of route length calculation.

Implementation Method 1

the quantities to be determined, acceleration a, speed v and distance s of the application under consideration, are not immediately available, i.e. already during the GPS downtime must be determined

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration sensor measurement: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP1731873B1Method and device for in-vehicle calculation of the length of a distance travelled
Publication Date: 2012.05.16 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP1731873B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1731873B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1731873B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The method involves determining an estimated speed characteristic by temporal integration of length acceleration value when position and/or speed data of a vehicle is unavailable. Estimated speed values and speed data are compared for derivation of an offset compensation, and a length of a distance traveled by the vehicle is calculated as the sum of the integration of the characteristics and compensation, when the data are reavailable. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a computer program with program code unit in order to execute a method of vehicle-side calculation of the length of a distance traveled (2) a device for vehicle-side calculation of the length of a distance traveled.