Vehicle Heading Localization Using Smartphone Motion in GNSS-Denied Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate vehicle heading determination is challenging in environments with weak or absent GNSS signals, leading to incorrect or unavailable heading information, which affects navigation and routing in vehicles, especially autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle heading determination system that utilizes device heading information from a user device, such as a smartphone, to determine the vehicle's heading based on the device's location and movement relative to predefined zones around the vehicle, using short-range communication and trilateration techniques without relying on GNSS signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GNSS system is used to determine vehicle heading, then heading information can be obtained in open-sky environments, but heading determination fails in GNSS-denied environments such as parking garages, underground roadways, and tunnels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between GNSS and the vehicle system. The smartphone uses its own sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to determine heading when GNSS is unavailable, and communicates this information to the vehicle's navigation system, enabling operation in GNSS-denied environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the reliance on electromagnetic GNSS signals with a mechanical/inertial sensing approach using the smartphone's motion sensors. By substituting satellite-based electromagnetic signal dependency with local inertial measurement, the system can determine heading independently of external signal availability.
2Measurement precision
If dual-receiver GNSS system is used to determine heading when vehicle is motionless, then accurate heading can be obtained, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the smartphone serve dual purposes: it acts as both the user interface device and the heading determination sensor platform. The smartphone's existing sensors are utilized for heading measurement, eliminating the need for additional dedicated heading sensors in the vehicle system.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the user interface for navigation, the communication bridge between GNSS and the vehicle system, and the inertial sensing platform for heading determination. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity and cost.
3Loss of time
If previously stored heading is used when vehicle starts up, then heading information is immediately available, but the stored heading may be incorrect or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the smartphone continuously monitors GNSS signal availability and sensor data quality. When GNSS signals are acquired or sensor data becomes reliable, the system updates the heading information, providing feedback to correct any previously stored incorrect heading values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary heading determination using the smartphone's sensors before the vehicle actually moves or before GNSS signals are acquired. This allows the system to have heading information ready immediately at startup, while still maintaining the ability to update and correct this preliminary heading once better data becomes available.
Data Source
AI summary
A heading determination system for determining heading of a vehicle includes a connection module configured to receive device heading information from a user device. The device heading information indicates a direction of movement of the user device. The heading determination system includes a movement determination module configured to, based on location information of the user device measured by the vehicle, determine a relative device movement. The relative device movement indicates a direction of movement of the user device relative to the vehicle. The heading determination system includes a localization module configured to determine the heading of the vehicle based on the device heading information and the relative device movement, and transmit the heading of the vehicle to a control module of the vehicle to perform an action.