Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Calibration via Log Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autonomous vehicles are sub-optimally designed, inefficient in resource usage, and poorly suited for managing inventory and navigation in dynamic environments, particularly in urban settings, due to their reliance on human-driven paradigms and limited self-driving capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A fleet of bidirectional autonomous vehicles with advanced sensor systems and communication networks, capable of real-time trajectory calculations and teleoperation, optimized for efficient operation and safety through redundant communication channels and adaptive lighting systems, allowing for level 4 full self-driving automation without the need for manual steering or passenger seating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional autonomous vehicles are designed based on human-driven paradigms with reserved driver seats and manual steering mechanisms, then the vehicle can accommodate licensed drivers and maintain compatibility with existing automotive standards, but the vehicle design becomes sub-optimal, resource usage becomes inefficient, and costs of production increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the driver's seat, steering wheel, and manual control mechanisms from the vehicle interior, extracting only the essential autonomous driving components while eliminating unnecessary human-operated elements. This extraction reduces vehicle complexity and production costs while maintaining full autonomous functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing vehicles for human drivers and adding autonomous capabilities, the patent inverts the approach by designing vehicles from the ground up for autonomous operation only. This inversion eliminates the need for human-driven paradigms and optimizes the vehicle architecture for fully autonomous functionality.
2Ease of operation
If conventional transportation services use privately-owned vehicles with human drivers, then passengers can access transportation through centralized services, but vehicle inventory management becomes inefficient, maintenance and safety systems go unchecked, and vehicles are under-utilized when drivers depart
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles operate independently without human drivers, performing self-navigation, self-monitoring, and self-maintenance. This self-service capability enables continuous operation and maximizes vehicle utilization since vehicles are not rendered immobile when 'drivers' depart. The fleet management system automatically coordinates vehicle deployment and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal fleet management system that can manage multiple autonomous vehicles across different locations and service types. This multi-functional platform handles routing, maintenance scheduling, safety monitoring, and repositioning, thereby optimizing overall fleet utilization and productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional driverless vehicles require manual steering and reserved driver seats, then the vehicles can be based on existing automotive platforms, but opportunities to simplify vehicle design and conserve resources are foregone, leading to increased production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components such as steering wheels, pedals, and driver seats from the vehicle design. This extraction reduces the quantity of materials required for production and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining compatibility with existing automotive platforms through selective component retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key design parameters by eliminating human-operated controls and optimizing the vehicle architecture for autonomous operation. This includes modifying the interior layout, repositioning sensors, and reconfiguring the control system architecture, thereby reducing resource consumption while maintaining manufacturability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If ride-sharing services require drivers to pick up and drop off vehicles at specific locations, then shared vehicles can be managed among members, but convenient transportation services are compromised due to sparse pickup locations and expensive real estate requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicles dynamically reposition themselves without human intervention, automatically navigating to optimal locations for passenger pickup and dropoff. This dynamic capability eliminates the need for fixed parking locations and enables convenient door-to-door service, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining flexibility in vehicle sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include receiving data associated with a sensor measurement of a perceived object, determining a label associated with the perceived object based on an initial calibration, retrieving log file data associated with the label, determining a calibration parameter associated with the sensor measurement based on the retrieved log file data, and storing the calibration parameter in association with a sensor associated with the sensor measurement. Sensors may be calibrated on the fly while the autonomous vehicle is in operation using one or more other sensors and/or fused data from multiple types of sensors.