Vehicle Position Detection Using Track Edge Distance Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position detection systems for vehicles traveling on tracks struggle to accurately detect the distance between an ideal track position and the actual vehicle position, especially in systems without guide rails.
Innovation Solution
A position detection system comprising a distance measuring sensor mounted on the vehicle, an edge position detection unit, and a distance calculation unit. The system calculates the distance between the vehicle's reference position and the track's reference position by detecting the edges of the track using distance measurement data and specifying the track's reference position based on the positions of two or more edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guide rail is provided for mechanical steering, then the vehicle can be steered along a determined track, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the guide rail component from the steering system. Instead of using a physical guide rail for mechanical steering, the system uses a distance measuring sensor to detect track edges and calculates deviation from the ideal track, enabling guide-railless steering control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical steering system (guide wheel on guide rail) with an optical/electronic detection system (distance measuring sensor). The sensor measures distances to track edges and the control unit calculates positional deviation, substituting mechanical contact-based steering with non-contact optical measurement and computational control
2Device complexity
If a distance measuring sensor is mounted on the vehicle, then guide rails can be eliminated, but the measurement precision of vehicle position deviates from ideal track position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional distance measurement (single point) to two-dimensional spatial measurement by detecting distances to multiple track edges simultaneously. By measuring distances to both left and right track edges and calculating the center position, the system achieves more accurate lateral position detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the track edge as an intermediary reference object. Instead of directly measuring the ideal track center position, the system measures distances to the visible track edges and uses these edge positions as intermediaries to calculate the ideal track center position and vehicle deviation from it
3Measurement precision
If the distance measuring sensor measures distance to the ideal position directly, then position accuracy improves, but the sensor cannot capture the full track width range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial measurement action by measuring distances to specific critical points (track edges) rather than attempting to measure the entire track width continuously. The sensor focuses on detecting edge positions which are sufficient to calculate the ideal center position, avoiding the need to measure the full track area
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables accurate detection of the distance between the ideal and actual positions of the vehicle, allowing for precise steering control and maintaining the vehicle on the track without the need for guide rails.
Implementation Method 1
a distance measuring sensor mounted to a vehicle traveling along a track and capable of measuring a distance over a predetermined range in a track width direction
Data Source
AI summary
This position detection system is provided with: a distance measuring sensor that is attached to a vehicle traveling along a track and is capable of measuring a distance over a predetermined range in the track width direction; an edge position detecting unit that detects an edge position in the track width direction of the track on the basis of distance measurement data from the distance measuring sensor; and a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance in the track width direction between a reference position of the track that is specified from the edge position and a reference position of the vehicle to which the distance measuring sensor is attached.