US 2019/0195982 A1 · METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT DISTANCE MEASUREMENTS BETWEEN THE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES OF A VEHICLE CONVOY AND TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE MODULE FOR USE IN THE METHOD AND TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

Abstract

A method of high-density platooning for transporting goods or persons wherein a group of transportation vehicles drives close behind each other as a convoy, wherein the distances between the transportation vehicles of the convoy are controlled automatically to reduce the energy consumption. An efficient distance measurement method carries out distance measurements between the transportation vehicles of the convoy. A method of UWB ranging, corresponding to Ultra-Wide Band ranging, is used for distance measurement. The coordination of the time sequence of the individual distance measurements between each two transportation vehicles of the convoy is provided so a planned time is assigned to each individual distance measurement to be carried out starting from the coordination event.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A transportation vehicle module for use with a method for carrying out distance measurements between transportation vehicles of a convoy, the transportation vehicle module comprising:

a mobile radio communications module for transmission and reception of messages via a mobile telecommunications system;
and
a distance control module, wherein the distance control module and the mobile radio communications module cooperate to formulate and send a distance measurement coordination message to other transportation vehicles of the convoy by the mobile radio network communications module,
wherein the distances between the transportation vehicles of the convoy are controlled automatically based on the distance measurement coordination message,
wherein a UWB ranging method corresponding to ultra-wide band ranging is used by the distance control module for distance measurement, and
wherein coordination of a time sequence of individual distance measurements between each two transportation vehicles of the convoy is performed that a planned starting time is assigned to each individual distance measurement at which that individual distance measurement is to be performed starting from a coordination event.

3 more elements

A transportation vehicle comprising a transportation vehicle module for use with a method for carrying out distance measurements between transportation vehicles of a convoy, the transportation vehicle module comprising:

a mobile radio communications module for transmission and reception of messages via a mobile telecommunications system;
and
a distance control module, wherein the distance control module and the mobile radio communications module cooperate to formulate and send a distance measurement coordination message to other transportation vehicles of the convoy by the mobile radio network communications module,
wherein the distances between the transportation vehicles of the convoy are controlled automatically based on the distance measurement coordination message,
wherein a UWB ranging method corresponding to ultra-wide band ranging is used by the distance control module for distance measurement,
wherein coordination of a time sequence of individual distance measurements between each two transportation vehicles of the convoy is performed that a planned starting time is assigned to each individual distance measurement at which that individual distance measurement is to be performed starting from a coordination event, and
wherein the transportation vehicle module is installed in the transportation vehicle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for carrying out distance measurements between the transportation vehicles of a vehicle convoy and transportation vehicle module for use in the method and transportation vehicle

Life of this patent

Method for carrying out distance measurements between the transportation vehicles of a vehicle convoy and transportation vehicle module for use in the method and transportation vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18