Smart device

Abstract

A smart vehicle flock navigation system includes a plurality of smart vehicles configured to follow a leader smart vehicle, wherein the leader smart vehicle is configured to follow a target vehicle or a target driving plan; each smart vehicle being equipped with: obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities; vehicle-to-vehicle communication means for transmitting information about obstacles and evasive actions to following smart vehicles; a flock control module for adjusting the driving path of the smart vehicle flock based on transmitted obstacle information; a flocking behavior algorithm based on three independent rules: Separation, Alignment, and Cohesion, controlling the motion of each smart vehicle within the flock; and a distributed flocking operation mechanism utilizing wireless network communication for coordinating the behavior of the smart vehicle flock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart vehicle flock navigation system, comprising:
 a plurality of smart vehicles configured to follow a leader smart vehicle, wherein the leader smart vehicle is configured to follow a target vehicle or a target driving plan; each smart vehicle being equipped with:   obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities;   vehicle-to-vehicle communication means for transmitting information about obstacles and evasive actions to following smart vehicles;   a flock control module for adjusting the driving path of the smart vehicle flock based on transmitted obstacle information;   a flocking behavior algorithm based on three independent rules: Separation, Alignment, and Cohesion, controlling the motion of each smart vehicle within the flock;   a distributed flocking operation mechanism utilizing wireless network communication for coordinating the behavior of the smart vehicle flock; and   a position and velocity update process for calculating new positions and velocities for each smart vehicle based on the three rules.   
     
     
         2 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the target vehicle comprises a leading vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the leader smart vehicle takes evasive actions to avoid obstacles, and the following smart vehicles adjust their positions accordingly. 
     
     
         4 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flocking behavior algorithm is based on the rules of Separation, Alignment, and Cohesion. 
     
     
         5 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle-to-vehicle communication means utilizes Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) technology. 
     
     
         6 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed flocking operation mechanism ensures coordination between smart vehicles through wireless communication. 
     
     
         7 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flock control module adjusts the driving path of the entire smart vehicle flock based on obstacle information. 
     
     
         8 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the position and velocity update process includes calculating new velocities for each smart vehicle based on the three rules. 
     
     
         9 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the Separation rule ensures that smart vehicles maintain a safe distance from neighboring vehicles. 
     
     
         10 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the Alignment rule steers smart vehicles towards the average heading of neighboring vehicles. 
     
     
         11 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the Cohesion rule steers smart vehicles towards the average position of neighboring vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein each smart vehicle calculates a perceived center based on the positions of neighboring smart vehicles and adjusts its motion towards the perceived center. 
     
     
         13 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein smart vehicles maintain a safe distance from other objects, including other smart vehicles, based on the Separation rule. 
     
     
         14 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein smart vehicles adjust their velocities to match the velocities of neighboring smart vehicles based on the Alignment rule. 
     
     
         15 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a crowd or traffic condition is detected, and a crowd avoidance procedure is implemented to adjust the velocities of smart vehicles. 
     
     
         16 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the speed of each smart vehicle is limited to a predetermined value using a speed limiting procedure. 
     
     
         17 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the position of each smart vehicle is bounded within specified limits using a position bounding procedure. 
     
     
         18 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a scattering behavior is implemented by modifying the rules to repel smart vehicles from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a tendency to move away from a particular point or object is implemented by modifying the rules accordingly. 
     
     
         20 . The smart vehicle flock navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart vehicle flock can be organized into a V formation, with the flock leader at the tip of the formation.