Vehicle Speed Regulation Using Turn Beacons Without Navigation Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speed regulation systems for motor vehicles rely heavily on navigation data, which may not be accessible in all situations, such as tunnels, limiting their effectiveness in regulating vehicle speed during turns.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing external beacons with communication devices and sensors to transmit information about turn configurations and conditions to the vehicle, allowing the vehicle's computer to adjust speed independently of navigation data, using signals from presence and speed sensors and additional beacons positioned along the turn.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If speed regulation systems use navigation data to regulate vehicle speed during turns, then speed regulation can be achieved, but the system fails when navigation data is not accessible (e.g., in tunnels)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed regulation reliabilityVSAvoidsystem adaptability to different environments
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices positioned along the roadway that directly communicate turn configuration data to the vehicle. These beacons serve as mediators between the road infrastructure and the vehicle's speed regulation system, eliminating the need for navigation data and ensuring reliable operation in all environments including tunnels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the speed regulation functionality into separate components: beacons positioned at specific locations along the roadway that transmit turn configuration data, and vehicle-based receivers that process this data. This segmentation allows the navigation system to be replaced while maintaining speed regulation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the system uses only navigation data for speed regulation, then the system structure is simple, but it cannot provide speed regulation when navigation data is unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed regulation availabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Beacons are introduced as external intermediary devices that store and transmit turn configuration data directly to vehicles. This shifts the data storage function from the vehicle's navigation system to roadside infrastructure, ensuring data availability without significantly increasing vehicle complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the turn configuration data storage and transmission function from the vehicle's navigation system and places it in external beacons. This extraction allows the speed regulation system to operate independently of the navigation system while maintaining access to necessary road geometry data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If beacons store fixed turn configuration data, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to vehicles with different speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed adaptation capabilityVSAvoidbeacon system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon system is enhanced with presence and speed sensors that detect approaching vehicles and dynamically adjust the transmitted turn configuration data based on vehicle speed. This dynamic adaptation allows the same beacon to provide optimized guidance for vehicles traveling at different speeds without requiring multiple fixed configuration sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through sensors that detect vehicle presence and speed, then use this information to adjust the turn configuration data transmitted by the beacon. This closed-loop approach ensures that each vehicle receives appropriately tailored speed guidance based on its actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4061681B1System and method for regulating the speed of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4061681B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4061681B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for regulating the speed of a motor vehicle (1), the vehicle comprising: a device for receiving a signal from a first beacon located outside the vehicle, a computer arranged to adjust the speed, characterized in that the first beacon (31) is located close to a turn (2) and comprises a computer and an embedded memory for storing information on the configuration of the turn (2) and the turn (2)-taking conditions, a device for transmitting a signal representative of the configuration of a turn and the turn-taking conditions, the computer of the vehicle being arranged to process the signal from the first beacon (31) received via the receiving device so as to adjust the speed of the vehicle (1) according to the configuration of the turn (2) and the turn (2)-taking conditions.