Wrong-Way Driver Detection via V2V Position and Digital Map

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wrong-way driver detection systems are limited to specific environments, rely on infrastructure, or require visual contact, making them inaccurate, expensive, or only effective at collision courses.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle equipped with a communication unit for receiving status data from other vehicles and an analysis device using a digital road map to identify wrong-way drivers, enabling vehicle-to-vehicle communication for timely and accurate warnings, regardless of location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If infrastructure elements are used for wrong-way driver detection, then detection capability is provided, but the system becomes static and limited to specific locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrong-way driver detection capabilityVSAvoiddetection coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having fixed infrastructure elements detect wrong-way drivers at specific locations, the patent inverts the approach by equipping mobile vehicles with detection capabilities. The receiving vehicle becomes an mobile detection unit that travels throughout the road network, thereby expanding detection coverage from static points to dynamic throughout the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the receiving vehicle's own movement and positioning capabilities to provide detection services. The vehicle leverages its integrated receiver and processor along with digital map data to autonomously detect and respond to wrong-way drivers in its vicinity, making the vehicle both the service provider and the service recipient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If camera or radar systems are used for detection, then wrong-way drivers can be identified, but only when there is visual contact and collision course

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrong-way driver identification accuracyVSAvoiddetection range and conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces digital map data as an intermediary between the received position information and the wrong-way driver determination. By comparing the other vehicle's position and direction data against the digital map's road geometry and permitted direction information, the system can identify wrong-way drivers without requiring direct visual contact, expanding detection beyond line-of-sight limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If TMC (Traffic Message Channel) is used for warning dissemination, then wrong-way driver warnings can be distributed, but the warnings are not timely and are very inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarning disseminationVSAvoidwarning accuracy and timeliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and analysis using the integrated receiver and processor before warnings need to be disseminated. By continuously monitoring position information from other vehicles and comparing it against digital map data in advance, the system can identify wrong-way drivers early and prepare timely, accurate warnings specific to the receiving vehicle's location and trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3218889B1Motor vehicle having means for detecting a wrong-way driver
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 AUDI AG
  • EP3218889B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) comprising: a communication unit (36) that is designed to receive respective status data (S) from at least one other vehicle (26) located in an environment (12) of the motor vehicle (10), said status data containing positional information (P1, P2, P3) of the other vehicle (26); and an analysis device (36) having a digital road map (38) with driving direction information (40, 42). The object of the invention is to provide means for detecting a wrong-way driver. For this purpose, for every other vehicle (26), the analysis device (36) is designed to enter the position on the road of the other vehicle in the digital road map (38), based on the positional information (P1, P2, P3) of the other vehicle (26), and to check whether the other vehicle (26) is a wrong-way driver driving against the prescribed driving direction, based on the driving direction information (40, 42) prescribed for the position on the road, and based on the status data (S) of the other vehicle (26). A signal (A) is generated in the event that the other vehicle (26) is detected as a wrong-way driver.