Navigation Waypoint Planning with Dynamic Position Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation route planning systems for vessels and aircraft are inefficient in setting next waypoints, as they rely on sequential setting of waypoints and display only a guideline value for finding the next waypoint, which does not allow for the determination of the best navigation route.

Innovation Solution

A navigation planning device that allows users to input a plurality of waypoints in random or sequential order, with the ability to adjust the position of each waypoint to optimize the navigation route, using indicator data to connect waypoints and determine the optimized route.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If waypoints are set sequentially one by one, then the operation process is simple and easy to understand, but the efficiency of route planning is low and the optimal route cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of waypoint settingVSAvoidroute planning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by allowing waypoints to be set in random order rather than fixed sequential order, and enabling users to freely move and adjust waypoint positions after initial setting. This dynamic approach transforms the static sequential process into a flexible system where waypoints can be added, moved, and optimized at any stage, thereby improving route planning efficiency without complicating the operation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by displaying multiple candidate waypoints in advance before the user completes the route planning. The system pre-calculates and presents several possible next waypoints with their respective distances, allowing users to make informed decisions about route optimization without having to mentally calculate or sequentially test each option, thus significantly improving planning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If only a guideline value is displayed for finding the next waypoint, then the display is simple and clear, but the ability to determine the best navigation route is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay complexityVSAvoidroute optimization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information display for different operational needs. When multiple candidate waypoints are displayed, each candidate shows its specific distance value, allowing users to compare and select the optimal route. This localized detailed information is provided only where needed (at candidate waypoint positions) rather than uniformly across the entire display, maintaining overall simplicity while improving route determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously updating and displaying distance information for multiple candidate waypoints as the user interacts with the interface. This real-time feedback allows users to see how different waypoint selections affect the overall route, enabling them to make optimized decisions based on quantitative distance comparisons rather than relying on intuitive but potentially suboptimal choices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4012339B1Apparatus and method for navigation route planning
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4012339B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4012339B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4012339B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A navigation planning device (101) comprising a position specifying unit configured to receive a navigation start point (201), a navigation destination point (203) and a plurality of waypoints (205a-205e) between the navigation start point (201) and the navigation destination point (203). The plurality of waypoints is received in at least one type of order. The navigation planning device is characterized by a positional relation determination unit (119) configured to determine a positional relationship between the plurality of waypoints (205a-205e). The navigation planning device (101) further comprises an indicator display unit (121) configured to determine at least one indicator data corresponding to at least one waypoint data of the plurality of waypoints (205a-205e), based on the positional relationship between the plurality of waypoints (205a-205e), and output the at least one waypoint data and the corresponding at least one indicator data to a display.