Vehicle Parameter Control for Worksite Congestion Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicle work sites face operational disturbances such as traffic jams, vehicle failures, and bottlenecks, leading to disrupted workflows and reduced productivity.

Innovation Solution

A computer system with processing circuitry that adjusts two or more operating parameters associated with a set of vehicles in a work site, allowing for efficient management of workflows by controlling speed, acceleration, and other parameters to resolve congestion and improve productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vehicles operate at high speed to maintain productivity, then productivity is improved, but congestion and operational disturbances occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperations per time unitVSAvoidworkflow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters of vehicles based on real-time workflow conditions. When congestion is detected, parameters such as speed and acceleration are reduced; when workflow is smooth, parameters are increased to maintain productivity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining high productivity and avoiding congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operating parameters (speed, acceleration, distance between vehicles) based on workflow conditions. By adjusting these parameters in response to congestion or smooth operations, the system maintains productivity while preventing operational disturbances, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and workflow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If operating parameters are adjusted to resolve congestion, then workflow stability is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkflow stabilityVSAvoidoperations per time unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors workflow conditions and periodically adjusts operating parameters. When congestion is detected, parameters are reduced to stabilize workflow; when congestion clears, parameters are increased again to restore productivity. This periodic adjustment cycle resolves the contradiction by temporarily reducing productivity only when necessary for workflow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system makes operating parameters dynamic rather than static. Speed, acceleration, and spacing are continuously adjusted based on real-time conditions, allowing the system to maintain high productivity during smooth operations while temporarily reducing to resolve congestion, thus balancing productivity and workflow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If multiple operating parameters are adjusted simultaneously to control workflow, then workflow management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkflow management efficiencyVSAvoidparameter control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple operating parameter controls into a unified workflow management system. Instead of controlling speed, acceleration, and spacing separately, the system adjusts these parameters simultaneously based on overall workflow conditions, improving management efficiency while using integrated control to manage the complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a universal control mechanism that handles multiple operating parameters through a single workflow management process. This multi-functional approach allows efficient coordination of speed, acceleration, and spacing adjustments while avoiding the complexity of separate control systems for each parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4564275A1Adjusting operating parameters of vehicles
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 VOLVO AUTONOMOUS SOLUTIONS AB
  • EP4564275A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4564275A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4564275A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A computer system (700) comprising processing circuitry (702) configured to handle two or more operating parameters associated with a set of vehicles (11) operating in a work site (100) is provided. The processing circuitry (702) is configured to obtain a first indication indicative of an adjustment to be performed to the two or more operating parameters associated with the set of vehicles (11). The processing circuitry (702) is configured to trigger the adjustment indicated by the first indication to be applied to the two or more operating parameters.