Methods for positioning vehicles using electric road systems and vehicles operated using these methods

Abstract

A vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle including a current collector transmitting electric power from a current conductor located in a predetermined position in the surface of a road a distance from one side of the road; a first detecting means generating a signal indicative of the position of the current collector relative to a current conductor reference point; where the current collector is displaceable to track the current conductor in response to the signal; and a second detecting means detecting the position of the current collector are provided. The method involves determining a first distance representing the position of the current collector relative to the current conductor reference point; determining a second distance representing the position of the current collector relative to a vehicle reference point; and determining a distance between the vehicle reference point and the current conductor reference point using the first and second distances to determine a current vehicle position on the road.