Semi-autonomous guidance system for a vehicle
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- means for receiving a first guidance signal and a second guidance signal from a leading vehicle, wherein the second guidance signal differs from the first guidance signal;
means for determining the direction to the leading vehicle and the distance to the leading vehicle based on at least one of the received guidance signals;
means for providing control signals for moving along a path defined by successive determinations of the distance and direction to the leading vehicle; and
means for determining the relative orientation of the leading vehicle based on the first and second guidance signals.
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Abstract
A system (and corresponding method) by which a number of trailing vehicles follows (more or less in line, one behind the other) a lead vehicle, and so forms a convoy, with each of the trailing vehicles receiving a guidance signal from the vehicle ahead of it in order to determine its course (although in case of emergency, the trailing vehicles can each receive commands from the lead vehicle to alter the path indicated by the guidance signal from the vehicle ahead of it).
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus, for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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means for receiving a first guidance signal and a second guidance signal from a leading vehicle, wherein the second guidance signal differs from the first guidance signal;
means for determining the direction to the leading vehicle and the distance to the leading vehicle based on at least one of the received guidance signals;
means for providing control signals for moving along a path defined by successive determinations of the distance and direction to the leading vehicle; and
means for determining the relative orientation of the leading vehicle based on the first and second guidance signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, for use by equipment in a vehicle, comprising:
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a step of receiving a first guidance signal and a second guidance signal from a leading vehicle, wherein the second guidance signal differs from the first guidance signal;
a step of determining the direction to the leading vehicle and the distance to the leading vehicle based on at least one of the received guidance signals;
a step of providing control signals for moving along a path defined by successive determinations of the distance and direction to the leading vehicle; and
a step of determining the relative orientation of the leading vehicle based on the first and second guidance signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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a first transmitter, for transmitting a guidance signal for use by a following vehicle;
a second transmitter in spaced apart relation to the first transmitter, for providing a second guidance signal for use by the following vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method, for use by equipment in a vehicle, comprising:
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transmitting a guidance signal for use by a following vehicle, using a first transmitter;
providing a second guidance signal for use by the following vehicle, using a second transmitter in spaced apart relation to the first transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification