Multi-Sensor Occupant Measurement for Accurate Restraint Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle occupant measurement systems lack accuracy and reliability in determining occupant height and weight, which affects the effectiveness of restraint deployment systems.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing multiple sensors, including cameras and radar, to combine image and radar data for enhanced occupant measurement, with confidence-based weighting to improve accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor type (camera or radar) is used for occupant measurement, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement accuracy and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (camera and radar) into a unified measurement system. The camera captures images for visual analysis while the radar provides depth and motion data. These different sensor modalities are merged through data fusion algorithms to produce complementary measurement information, thereby improving overall measurement accuracy and reliability while accepting increased system complexity as a necessary trade-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system functions as a composite sensing approach, where data from heterogeneous sensor sources (optical camera and electromagnetic radar) are combined. Each sensor type contributes its strengths - the camera provides detailed visual information and the radar provides accurate depth and velocity data - creating a composite measurement solution that overcomes the limitations of individual sensor types.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to improve measurement accuracy, then the reliability of restraint deployment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates confidence value calculations that provide feedback on the quality and reliability of measurements from each sensor. This feedback mechanism allows the system to assess the trustworthiness of camera versus radar measurements in real-time, enabling intelligent decision-making about which sensor data to prioritize for restraint deployment decisions, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through adaptive confidence-based selection.
3Reliability
If confidence-based weighting is used to select measurements, then the measurement reliability is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the weighting parameters assigned to different sensor measurements based on calculated confidence values. When camera confidence is high, the system weights camera measurements more heavily; when radar confidence is high, it weights radar measurements more heavily. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying measurement conditions and maintain high reliability without requiring complex manual intervention, as the weighting parameters are automatically optimized based on real-time confidence assessments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the accuracy and reliability of occupant height and weight measurements, leading to improved control of restraint deployment systems.
Implementation Method 1
an image captured using a camera within the passenger cabin of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
radar signals from a radar sensor within the passenger cabin of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A camera measurement module is configured to determine first measurements of an occupant of a seat based on an image captured using a camera within the passenger cabin of the vehicle. A radar measurement module is configured to determine second measurements of the occupant of the seat within the passenger cabin of the vehicle based on radar signals from a radar sensor, A measurement module is configured to determine third measurements of the occupant of the seat within the passenger cabin based on at least one of: the first measurements of the occupant of the seat; and the second measurements of the occupant of the seat. An actuator control module is configured to selectively actuate an actuator of a restraint associated with the seat based on the one or more third measurements of the occupant of the seat.