Communication between vehicles of a platoon
First Claim
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1. A communication system for enabling communication between vehicles in a platoon whether such vehicles are arranged consecutively or non-consecutively, the system comprising:
- a first emitter and a first receiver, configured to be directed in a forward direction of a vehicle;
a second emitter and a second receiver, configured to be directed in a backward direction of the vehicle; and
a controller in communication with the emitters and the receivers, the controller configured to;
during an initialization phase, determine a position of the vehicle within the platoon and the identity of each vehicle in the platoon, based on optical signals detected by the first and/or second receivers; and
during a data transmission phase, participate in a token-based data transmission by evaluating an optical signal received by one of the first or second receivers and causing the emission of an optical signal either by the corresponding one of the first or second emitters that received the signal should the vehicle be the first or last vehicle in the platoon, or by the other one of the first or second emitters should the vehicle not be the first or last vehicle in the platoon;
wherein the controller is further configured to, during the data transmission phase;
if the vehicle is the first vehicle of the platoon, start the cyclical circulation of an optical control signal;
if an optical control signal is received and no data transmission is required, forward the received control signal; and
if an optical control signal is received and data transmission is required, generate and send a data-transmission signal including identification of a sender, a destination vehicle, payload data, and error correction data.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for communication between vehicles within a platoon of vehicles. In one embodiment, each vehicle is equipped with forward and backward directed optical emitters and receivers in operable communication with a controller. In an initialization phase, each vehicle determines its position within the platoon and the identification of all vehicles of the platoon. In a data transmission phase, each vehicle takes part in a token-based data transmission.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A communication system for enabling communication between vehicles in a platoon whether such vehicles are arranged consecutively or non-consecutively, the system comprising:
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a first emitter and a first receiver, configured to be directed in a forward direction of a vehicle; a second emitter and a second receiver, configured to be directed in a backward direction of the vehicle; and a controller in communication with the emitters and the receivers, the controller configured to; during an initialization phase, determine a position of the vehicle within the platoon and the identity of each vehicle in the platoon, based on optical signals detected by the first and/or second receivers; and during a data transmission phase, participate in a token-based data transmission by evaluating an optical signal received by one of the first or second receivers and causing the emission of an optical signal either by the corresponding one of the first or second emitters that received the signal should the vehicle be the first or last vehicle in the platoon, or by the other one of the first or second emitters should the vehicle not be the first or last vehicle in the platoon; wherein the controller is further configured to, during the data transmission phase; if the vehicle is the first vehicle of the platoon, start the cyclical circulation of an optical control signal; if an optical control signal is received and no data transmission is required, forward the received control signal; and if an optical control signal is received and data transmission is required, generate and send a data-transmission signal including identification of a sender, a destination vehicle, payload data, and error correction data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of communication vehicles in a platoon whether such vehicles are arranged consecutively or non-consecutively, the method comprising:
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providing a first emitter and a first receiver directed in the forward direction of a vehicle; providing a second emitter and a second receiver directed in the backward direction of the vehicle; during an initialization phase, determining a position of the vehicle within the platoon and the identity of all vehicles in the platoon, based on optical signals detected by the first and/or second receivers; and during a data transmission phase; participating in a token-based data transmission by evaluating an optical signal received by one of the first or second receivers and causing the emission of an optical signal either by the corresponding one of the first or second emitters that received the signal should the determined position of the vehicle be the first or last vehicle in the platoon, or by the other one of the first or second emitters should the determined position of the vehicle not be the first or last vehicle in the platoon; if the vehicle is the first vehicle of the platoon, starting the cyclical circulation of an optical control signal; if an optical control signal is received and no data transmission is required, forwarding the received control signal; and if an optical control signal is received and data transmission is required, generating and sending a data-transmission signal comprising identification of a sender, a destination vehicle identification, payload data, and error correction data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of communication between non-consecutive vehicles in a platoon, the method comprising:
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providing a first emitter and a first receiver directed in the forward direction of a vehicle; providing a second emitter and a second receiver directed in the backward direction of the vehicle; during an initialization phase, determining a position of the vehicle within the platoon and the identity of all vehicles in the platoon, based on optical signals detected by the first and/or second receivers; and during a data transmission phase; participating in a token-based multi-hop data transmission by evaluating an optical signal received by one of the first or second receivers and causing the emission of an optical signal either by the corresponding one of the first or second emitters that received the signal should the determined position of the vehicle be the first or last vehicle in the platoon, or by the other one of the first or second emitters should the determined position of the vehicle not be the first or last vehicle in the platoon; if the vehicle is the first vehicle of the platoon, starting the cyclical circulation of an optical control signal; if an optical control signal is received and no data transmission is required, forwarding the received control signal; and if an optical control signal is received and data transmission is required, generating and sending a data-transmission signal comprising identification of a sender, a destination vehicle identification, payload data, and error correction data.
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Specification