Vehicle Remote Control Obstacle Avoidance via Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote control systems for vehicles cannot effectively navigate and park in tight spaces, such as garages, when obstacles like garage door posts project beyond a certain distance from the vehicle's straight extension, limiting the vehicle's ability to enter or exit due to the need for precise alignment.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allows a vehicle to automatically detect and avoid obstacles by changing direction and steering to align with the vehicle's contour, enabling it to move away from the obstacle and reposition to safely enter or exit a garage, using a transceiver device, sensors, and a remote control system that allows the driver to control the vehicle's movement from outside.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle uses existing remote control systems to navigate to a target position, then the vehicle can be controlled remotely, but the vehicle cannot effectively navigate when obstacles project beyond a certain distance from the straight extension of the vehicle contour

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to navigate in tight spacesVSAvoidnavigation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the traditional approach by allowing the vehicle to move in the opposite direction (second direction of travel) from the target position when an obstacle is detected, rather than only moving directly toward the target. This reverse movement enables the vehicle to bypass obstacles that would otherwise block the path, resolving the contradiction between adaptability to tight spaces and navigation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the direction of travel based on real-time obstacle detection. When an obstacle projects beyond the maximum intrusion distance, the system switches from moving in the first direction (toward target) to moving in the second direction (opposite to target), creating a dynamic navigation approach that maintains both adaptability and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the vehicle moves directly to the target position without considering obstacles, then the navigation is simple and fast, but the vehicle cannot avoid obstacles that project into the travel path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation speedVSAvoidobstacle collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the environment using sensors and provides feedback about obstacle positions. When an obstacle is detected that projects beyond the maximum intrusion distance, the feedback triggers a change in navigation behavior, causing the vehicle to move in the opposite direction to avoid collision. This feedback mechanism maintains navigation speed while eliminating collision risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary obstacle detection before the vehicle reaches the target position. By detecting obstacles in advance and calculating their projection distance, the system can take preliminary avoidance actions by moving in the opposite direction, preventing collision before it occurs while maintaining efficient navigation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the vehicle requires precise alignment with the garage entrance, then the vehicle can enter smoothly, but the vehicle cannot enter when parked with a large offset relative to the garage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of garage entryVSAvoidtolerance to parking offset

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows the vehicle to temporarily move in the opposite direction (second direction of travel) from the garage entrance when a large parking offset is detected. This reverse movement repositions the vehicle to achieve proper alignment with the garage entrance, thereby maintaining ease of operation while significantly increasing tolerance to initial parking offset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an additional dimension to the navigation problem by utilizing movement in two opposite directions (first direction toward target, second direction opposite to target). This dimensional flexibility allows the vehicle to correct lateral offsets by moving backward and steering, then proceeding forward into the garage, combining ease of operation with high adaptability to various parking positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20240210957A1Method and apparatus for remote control of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method and apparatus for remote control of a vehicle. An input and/or remote control device is provided. The apparatus includes: a transceiver device in the vehicle, configured to exchange signals with the input and/or remote control device; sensors mounted in or on the vehicle for detecting the environment of the vehicle; a signal from the input and/or remote control device to the transceiver device activates an operating mode in the vehicle in which the vehicle moves to a target position independently, i.e., without the assistance of a driver located in the vehicle. The target position is in a first direction of travel of the vehicle. The vehicle, in the operating mode, also moves in the second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel depending on the detected environment. The vehicle can also move away from the target position in order to reach the target position.