Vehicular Path Adjustment via Road Network Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency vehicles face significant delays and safety risks due to the need to navigate through heavily trafficked roads while minimizing interactions with other vehicles, leading to inefficiencies and increased transit times.
Innovation Solution
A method where emergency vehicles communicate their intended path to the road network, which relays signals to nearby vehicles to adjust their speed and path, utilizing smart pavement patches and communication technologies to ensure a clear passage for the emergency vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency vehicles navigate through heavily trafficked roads while avoiding collisions with other vehicles, then safety is improved, but transit time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying other vehicles of the emergency vehicle's intended path in advance. The road network receives the signal containing the intended path before the emergency vehicle arrives, allowing other vehicles to proactively adjust their speed and position to clear the path, thus reducing transit time while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the emergency vehicle's position and intended path through signals sent to the road network. Other vehicles receive real-time information about the emergency vehicle's movement and adjust their behavior accordingly, creating a dynamic feedback loop that optimizes both safety and transit time
2Loss of time
If emergency vehicles travel at high speed through traffic, then transit time is reduced, but the likelihood of collisions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the emergency vehicle to maintain high speed by notifying other vehicles in advance of its intended path. Other vehicles receive the signal and adjust their position before the emergency vehicle arrives, eliminating the need for the emergency vehicle to slow down and reducing collision risk while maintaining fast transit time
Solution Approach 2:
The road network acts as an intermediary between the emergency vehicle and other vehicles. The emergency vehicle sends its intended path to the road network, which then relays this information to other vehicles, enabling coordinated movement that allows high-speed travel without increasing collision risk
3Reliability
If emergency vehicles use traditional sirens and lights to alert other drivers, then collision risk is reduced, but transit time increases due to minimal inter-vehicle interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical acoustic system (sirens) and visual signals (lights) with an electronic communication system. The emergency vehicle sends digital signals containing its intended path to the road network, which then communicates with other vehicles electronically, eliminating the delays associated with acoustic propagation and human reaction to traditional warnings
Solution Approach 2:
The road network serves as an intermediary communication infrastructure that enables direct electronic communication between the emergency vehicle and other vehicles. This intermediary system provides more efficient information transfer compared to traditional sirens and lights, improving both collision avoidance and roadway efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for vehicular operation on a road comprising a road network configured to communicate with one or more vehicles on the road, the method comprising sending a signal from a first vehicle to the road network, the signal comprising an intended path of the first vehicle on the road; receiving the signal at the road network; and adjusting at least one of a speed and a path of a second vehicle with respect to the road in response to the signal.