Guideline™ How It Works

Guideline™ Unmanned Convoy System uses state-of-the-art robotics to create a simple but powerful solution for your autonomous convoy. Guideline™ integrates easily with any existing robotic vehicle or autonomous control unit and uses a simple tethering system to connect it with any leader vehicle. No special equipment need be installed on the leader vehicle. Follow the diagrams below to see how Guideline™ works.

1. Attach a Control Unit or Integrate With Existing Vehicle Robotics

Guideline™ integrates with any existing vehicle control unit, or you can use one of ours. The vehicle control unit is what controls the movements of the follower vehicle and usually consists of a computer, steering mechanism, and actuators. Learn more about our Universal Robotic Driver Kit by clicking on the button below.

2. Mount the Guideline™ Unit on the Follower Vehicle

The Guideline™ unit houses the spring-loaded spool of Kevlar cord that tethers the leader and follower vehicles together. Sensors in the Guideline™ unit relays the speed, distance, and direction of the lead vehicle to the Vehicle Control Unit which then plots a path that exactly follows the lead vehicle’s course. The Guideline™ unit can be mounted and integrated with any unmanned vehicle control system.

3. Clip the Kevlar Tether to Any Lead Vehicle

The Guideline™ physical tethering system is an easy way to link the leader and follower vehicles together. Because the tether simply clips on, there’s no need to install complicated robotics on the lead vehicle, and any lead vehicle can be used, even a person! The Kevlar tether does not communicate any information; all calculations are done by Guideline™ sensors and the vehicle control system.

4. Plot a Course and Drive!

Once you’ve installed your vehicle control system, your Guideline™ unit, and clipped the tether to the lead vehicle, you’re ready to drive! Your lead vehicle can be manned or totally autonomous, and Guideline™ will plot a safe course that mimics the lead vehicle precisely. Direction, speed, distance information is processed by Guideline™ and is relayed to the Vehicle Control System. The pathway created by Guideline™ allows for safe stopping distances at highway speeds and tight cornering in urban environments.