Automated Vehicle Navigation via Magnetic Signals

Soheila V. Bana and Pravin Varaiya

Abstract:	We propose a novel method for position location by automated vehicles in an Automated Highway System (AHS) [1]-[4]. The method employs magnetic signals to transmit pseudo-noise codes. Magnetic markers are provisioned on automated roads for lateral control of vehicles within a lane [5]. A vehicle has a magnetometer to follow a sequence of markers centered on the lane. We propose a technology for vehicle location that takes advantage of this AHS infrastructure. The magnetic markers are binary coded using their dual polarity. The sequence of the binary magnetic markers at each lane is coded to yield a pseudo-noise signal that is unique to that lane in the AHS network. The phase of the pseudo-noise signal represents the receiver's range from a reference point on the lane, say, the beginning of the sequence on the lane. A vehicle resolves its absolute position on the road by estimating the signal phase. The signal properties insure accurate phase estimation. The advantage of our method over other navigation technologies is that it provides continuous accurate positioning. Moreover, vehicle positioning is obtained in real-time with little data processing. Radio navigation technologies fail to promise continuous accuracy due to signal fading and multi-path problems.
Published in:	Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000) June 26 - 28, 2000 The Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	65 - 72
Cite this article:	Bana, Soheila V., Varaiya, Pravin, "Automated Vehicle Navigation via Magnetic Signals," Proceedings of the IAIN World Congress and the 56th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2000), San Diego, CA, June 2000, pp. 65-72.
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