Vehicle Passing Width Guidance on Narrow Unpaved Roads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unpaved and remote roads often have insufficient or missing data in maps, and vehicles may encounter difficulty passing due to narrow sections that change with usage and weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system uses sensors and communication technologies to collect topographical data, determine a passing width, and guide vehicles to alternate locations or perform dig maneuvers to overcome narrow passages, utilizing infrastructure nodes and vehicle-to-vehicle communication for routing and maneuvering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles travel on narrow unpaved roads with insufficient map data, then vehicles can access remote areas, but passing between vehicles becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting topographical data ahead of time, determining passing widths, identifying suitable passing locations, and communicating with approaching vehicles before they arrive. This allows vehicles to plan passing maneuvers in advance rather than reacting when already in the narrow section
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary communication layer between vehicles using V2V and V2I technologies. This mediator exchanges topographical data, vehicle dimensions, and passing maneuver information, enabling coordinated passing decisions without direct vehicle-to-vehicle negotiation
2Reliability
If map data for unpaved roads is insufficient or missing, then routing systems cannot provide accurate guidance, but vehicles can still traverse these roads
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles perform self-service by using their own sensors to collect topographical data of unpaved roads and dynamically determine their own passing widths and suitable passing locations, rather than relying on pre-existing map data
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting sensor data during traversal, comparing it with stored topographical information, and updating routing decisions based on actual road conditions observed, allowing adaptation to changing weather and usage conditions
3Ease of operation
If vehicles perform dig maneuvers to expand effective passing width, then passing capability improves, but vehicle complexity and maneuver time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines dig maneuver requirements in advance by calculating passing widths and identifying locations where digging is needed before vehicles arrive, allowing drivers to prepare for and execute maneuvers more efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters by actively digging into the road surface to expand the effective passing width, transforming the road geometry dynamically to accommodate vehicle passing needs
Data Source
AI summary
A first passing width of a first vehicle can be determined based on (1) a first vehicle angle to a horizontal plane defined with respect to a roadway and (2) a first vehicle lateral width. Upon determining that a sum of the first passing width and a second passing width of a second vehicle exceeds a first available passing width at a first location on the road, a second location can be determined on the road having a second available passing width greater than or equal to the first and second passing widths.