Accelerometer Orientation Determination via Motion Phase Clustering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the orientation of an accelerometer system relative to a vehicle are time-consuming, prone to inaccuracies, and fail to account for changes in environmental conditions, especially when the vehicle is in motion.

Innovation Solution

A method that analyzes the distribution of acceleration measurements from a multi-axial accelerometer system while the vehicle is moving to determine its orientation, grouping measurements by movement phases (acceleration, deceleration, and uniform movement) to identify clusters that reflect the vehicle's orientation, allowing for rapid and robust orientation determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual calibration is performed during installation in a controlled environment, then orientation determination accuracy is improved, but calibration time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation determination accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The accelerometer system automatically determines its own orientation by analyzing acceleration data collected during normal vehicle operation. The system self-calibrates by identifying gravity vectors and motion patterns without requiring manual intervention, thus eliminating time-consuming manual calibration while maintaining accuracy through automated algorithms that process data from various vehicle conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system collects and stores acceleration data during normal vehicle operation before orientation determination is needed. By accumulating data from multiple vehicle conditions (acceleration, deceleration, turning, stationary) in advance, the system prepares sufficient information to accurately determine orientation without requiring dedicated calibration time later

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual calibration is performed during installation, then initial orientation accuracy is improved, but the system cannot adapt to subsequent environmental changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial orientation accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to environmental changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The orientation determination system continuously adapts to changing environmental conditions by dynamically processing acceleration data collected during normal vehicle operation. Rather than relying on static initial calibration, the system updates its orientation understanding based on real-time data from various vehicle conditions, making it adaptable to temperature changes, vehicle modifications, and environmental variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from continuous acceleration data collection during normal operation to verify and adjust orientation determination. By monitoring acceleration patterns during acceleration, deceleration, turning, and stationary conditions, the system can detect deviations from expected patterns and recalculate orientation to maintain accuracy despite environmental changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If acceleration data is collected during normal vehicle operation, then calibration time is reduced, but data quality and reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalibration speedVSAvoiddata quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments acceleration data based on specific vehicle conditions (acceleration phases, deceleration phases, turning maneuvers, stationary periods) to ensure high-quality data is used for orientation determination. By identifying and separating data from different operational states, the system maintains reliability while collecting data during normal operation rather than requiring controlled calibration environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If traditional manual calibration methods are used, then orientation can be determined with controlled conditions, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation determination accuracyVSAvoidcalibration process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical calibration procedures with automated computational methods. Instead of physically adjusting and manually measuring accelerometer orientation during installation, the system uses software algorithms to automatically determine orientation by analyzing acceleration data patterns, thereby reducing both time and complexity while maintaining or improving accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3850374B1System and method for determining accelerometer orientation

Publication Date: 2024.02.21 BRIDGESTONE MOBILITY SOLUTIONS BV

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AI summary

Disclosed is a method for determining the installation orientation of an accelerometer system relative to a vehicle within which it has been installed. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of acceleration measurements within the co-ordinate frame of the accelerometer system and then analysing the distribution of these measurements to determine the relative installation orientation. In particular, the measurements can be grouped according to the vehicle movement phase at which they were obtained and the measurements within the groups then used to determine the lateral and horizontal planes of the vehicle.