Method and system for following a lead vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first transmission signal toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle;
determining a first propagation time associated with the first transmission and the first beacon and a second propagation time associated with the first transmission and the second beacon;
controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first propagation time substantially equal to the second propagation time.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transmitter at a lead vehicle transmits a first transmission signal toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle. A data processor or estimator determines a first propagation time associated with the first transmission and the first beacon and a second propagation time associated with the first transmission and the second beacon. A vehicle controller controls a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance (i.e., first propagation time substantially equal to a second propagation time) or a first distance that deviates from the second distance by a predetermined maximum amount.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first transmission signal toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle;
determining a first propagation time associated with the first transmission and the first beacon and a second propagation time associated with the first transmission and the second beacon;
controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first propagation time substantially equal to the second propagation time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first transmission signal from a transmitter at a lead vehicle toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle, the first beacon and second beacon separated by a known distance;
determining a first aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a first beacon and a return signal from the first beacon to the lead vehicle;
determining a second aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a second beacon and a return signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
converting the first aggregate elapsed time into a first distance between the transmitter and the first beacon;
converting the second aggregate elapsed time into a second distance between the transmitter and the second beacon; and
controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first transmission signal from a transmitter at a lead vehicle toward a first beacon associated with a following vehicle;
communicating between the first beacon and a second beacon spaced apart from the first beacon by a known distance;
transmitting a second transmission signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
determining a first elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a first beacon;
determining a second elapsed time between the transmission of the second transmission signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
converting the first elapsed time into a first distance between the transmitter and the first beacon;
converting the second elapsed time into a second distance between the transmitter and the second beacon; and
controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the system comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a first transmission signal from a transmitter at a lead vehicle toward a first beacon and a second beacon associated with a following vehicle, the first beacon and second beacon separated by a known distance;
an estimator for determining a first aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a first beacon and a return signal from the first beacon to the lead vehicle, the estimator arranged to determine a second aggregate elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a second beacon and a return signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
a converter for converting the first aggregate elapsed time into a first distance between the transmitter and the first beacon and for converting the second aggregate elapsed time into a second distance between the transmitter and the second beacon; and
a vehicle controller for controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for following of a lead vehicle with a following vehicle, the system comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a first transmission signal from a transmitter at a lead vehicle toward a first beacon associated with a following vehicle;
a wireless communications device for communicating between the first beacon and a second beacon spaced apart from the first beacon by a known distance;
a transceiver for transmitting a second transmission signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
an estimator for determining a first elapsed time between the transmission of the first transmission signal to a first beacon and for determining a second elapsed time between the transmission of the second transmission signal from the second beacon to the lead vehicle;
a converter for converting the first elapsed time into a first distance between the transmitter and the first beacon and for converting the second elapsed time into a second distance between the transmitter and the second beacon; and
a vehicle controller for controlling a heading of the following vehicle to maintain a first distance substantially equal to a second distance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification