Precision multiple vehicle navigation system

摘要

A method and apparatus for managing movement. A navigation system comprises a first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device having a first inertial measurement unit with a first level of accuracy in a first vehicle and is configured to provide first information that identifies a position of the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle. The navigation system further comprises a second inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device in the first vehicle having a second inertial measurement unit with a second level of accuracy that is greater than the first level of accuracy and is configured to provide second information that identifies the position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle. The navigation system further comprises a controller that is configured to perform an action based on a desired level of accuracy of the first information.

主权项

1. A navigation system comprising:
a first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device in a first vehicle that has a first inertial measurement unit with a first level of accuracy, wherein the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device is configured to provide first information that identifies a position of the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle, and wherein the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device is configured to provide the first information that identifies the position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle using current position information received from the second vehicle; a second inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device in the first vehicle having a second inertial measurement unit with a second level of accuracy that is greater than the first level of accuracy when a problem exists in at least one of the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device, a global positioning system device in the second vehicle, and communications between the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device and the second vehicle, wherein the second inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device is configured to provide second information that identifies the position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle, and the problem is an absence of a desired level of accuracy or a desired level of quality; and a controller configured to perform an action when the problem exists in at least one of the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device, the global positioning system device in the second vehicle, and the communications between the first inertial measurement unit enabled global positioning system device and the second vehicle, wherein the action is selected from one of generating an alert, changing a desired separation, prohibiting a maneuver requiring a desired level of accuracy that cannot be provided without the current position information from the second vehicle, and changing a travel plan for the first vehicle.