Intelligent Bread Crumb Navigation for Vehicle Localization and Control

A reliable, low-cost system for vehicle positioning using roadway-embedded circuits.

Problem

Accurate and reliable vehicle localization is a prerequisite to widespread adoption of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). For dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) systems (charging the vehicles battery pack while moving), accurate localization also enables efficient acquisition of energy since the vehicle can position itself to align its receiving coil with transmitting coils in the roadway. In response to observed shortcomings of GPS in these applications, researchers have equipped CAVs with additional sensors. These additions are burdensome, both financially and in terms of on-board computational requirements.

Solution

The proposed infrastructure would include multiple roadway-embedded circuits, each receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a CAV as it drives over the road to determine the CAV’s position relative to the circuit. Additionally, the proposed localization system can accurately estimate the CAV’s absolute location using its position relative to a particular circuit and previously encoded data of the absolute locations of each circuit. Localization estimates can be further enhanced by estimates of relative displacement of the CAV from wheel encoders and steering angle sensors. This information can be blended with the data described above to estimate the full vehicle state (position, speed, and direction).

Benefits

The technology accurately and reliably determines locations of CAVs with onboarding costs as low as $90 and additional per-vehicle infrastructure costs of only $64-$640 per mile if circuits are positioned every 10 to every 100 meters along the roadway.

Applications

The technology can be added to existing consumer or commercial vehicles at a low cost to optimize wireless roadway charging and/or enable automation.

 

Contact

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Questions about this technology including licensing availability can be directed to:

Alan Edwards, MA, JD
Manager, Technology Transfer Services
(435) 797-2328 alan.edwards@usu.edu

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USU ID C21046