Autonomous Vehicle Map Update via Sensor Data Merging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous driving vehicles face challenges in accurately updating map data, particularly regarding traffic control devices, which can lead to safety issues due to the use of outdated information.

Innovation Solution

A method where autonomous vehicles transmit report messages and sensor data to a server, which processes these reports to detect changes in traffic control devices and generates updated map data, ensuring timely and efficient reflection of these changes across the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If real-time camera-based sensing is used to detect map information, then the map information reflects the latest changes, but the accuracy is inferior to high-definition maps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemap information currencyVSAvoidmap information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges real-time sensor data from multiple autonomous vehicles with pre-existing high-definition map data. The server combines these different data sources, using the HD map as a base and overlaying real-time detections to update map information, thereby achieving both currency and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that receives sensor data from vehicles, processes it against existing HD maps, and generates updated map data. This intermediary processing step ensures that real-time detections are filtered and integrated properly, maintaining accuracy while reflecting current changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If multiple vehicles report sensor data to detect traffic control device changes, then the detection speed increases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs multiple functions: it receives sensor data from multiple vehicles, processes the data to detect changes, generates updated map data, and distributes updates to all vehicles. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single centralized system rather than requiring complex distributed processing at each vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Each autonomous vehicle continuously collects and reports sensor data as part of its normal operation, effectively serving the map update function while performing its primary navigation task. The vehicles' existing sensing and communication systems are utilized for the additional purpose of map maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11340094B2Updating map data for autonomous driving vehicles based on sensor data

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 BAIDU USA LLC

AI summary

A server may determine whether traffic control devices in an environment have changed, based on one or more report messages and sensor data. If the traffic control devices in an environment have changed, the server may generate updated map data and transmit the updated map data to an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV).