Vehicle Steering via Base Station Target Estimation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for steering vehicles towards a destination, especially autonomous or unmanned vehicles, face challenges in accuracy and cost due to limitations in position data accuracy, the need for complex and error-prone image processing, and time delays in data transmission, which restrict high-speed targeting and increase operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a vehicle captures navigation data and transmits it along with environmental data to a base station, allowing the base station to estimate and update the target position, which is then communicated back to the vehicle for independent steering, eliminating the need for on-board image processing and reducing weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time image processing is performed in the vehicle using environmental sensors and target tracking devices, then target tracking capability is improved, but vehicle cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex image processing and target tracking functions from the vehicle and relocates them to a ground station. The vehicle only retains simple navigation data acquisition and transmission capabilities, while the ground station performs all heavy computational tasks including image digitization, processing, and target tracking, thereby reducing vehicle complexity while maintaining tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a ground station as an intermediary between the vehicle and the target tracking system. The ground station receives environmental sensor data from the vehicle, performs all image processing and target tracking operations, then transmits processed target position information back to the vehicle, serving as a mediator that separates computation from action
2Measurement precision
If complex target tracking systems are implemented in the vehicle, then tracking accuracy is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes heavy image processing computers and target tracking devices from the vehicle and relocates them to the ground station. The vehicle only carries lightweight navigation equipment and communication devices, significantly reducing weight while the ground station handles all computationally intensive tasks required for accurate target positioning
3Reliability
If operator supervision and manual tracking are implemented at a control station, then target tracking reliability is improved, but time delays in data transmission and command response increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated target tracking algorithms at the ground station that continuously process environmental sensor data and predict target position in advance. This preliminary automated tracking eliminates the need for manual operator intervention during critical phases, reducing response time while maintaining reliability through automated systems that can operate without human reaction delays
4Measurement precision
If continuous environmental sensor data transmission to the base station is implemented, then target position estimation accuracy is improved, but data transmission requirements and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transmits environmental sensor data to the base station at a reduced rate or selectively, rather than continuously at full resolution. The base station uses this partial data stream combined with navigation data to estimate target position, achieving sufficient accuracy without requiring complete continuous data transmission, thereby reducing communication bandwidth requirements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The method involves detecting navigation data of a vehicle (12) by a navigation device (22). The vehicle is steered in the direction of a specified target position based on the navigation data. The environment data of the vehicle is detected by an environment sensor (18). The environment data and the navigation data are transmitted to a base station (14). The estimated target position of a target (16) is determined from the environment data and the navigation data. The estimated target position is transmitted at the vehicle. An independent claim is included for a system for steering a vehicle in the direction of a target.