Drone-Based Peripheral Sensing for Autonomous Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and inefficiency of integrating autonomous driving systems, including cameras and radars, into various vehicles, along with maintenance challenges and potential sensing errors due to dust or damage, hinder widespread adoption of autonomous driving technology.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a drone equipped with sensing means like cameras and radars that can be rented by vehicles, interfacing with the autonomous driving system, allowing vehicles to obtain peripheral information for autonomous driving, and enabling remote management and maintenance of the drone fleet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If autonomous driving systems with cameras and radars are integrated into various vehicles, then autonomous driving capability is achieved, but cost burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system (camera, radar) is extracted from the vehicle and relocated to a drone. The vehicle only needs a communication device to receive sensing data from the drone, eliminating the need to integrate expensive sensing equipment into each vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
A drone is introduced as an intermediary carrier to hold and operate the sensing equipment. The drone flies around the vehicle and transmits sensing data to the vehicle through communication devices, serving as a mediator between the sensing system and the vehicle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cameras and radars are always mounted in vehicles for autonomous driving, then autonomous driving function is available, but vehicle efficiency decreases due to unnecessary equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system becomes dynamic rather than static. Instead of being fixed in the vehicle, the drone can dynamically position itself around the vehicle and adjust its sensing coverage based on the vehicle's movement and autonomous driving needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone serves multiple functions: it acts as a sensing platform, a mobile communication node, and can potentially serve multiple vehicles or different vehicle types, making the system more versatile and efficient.
3Reliability
If sensing equipment is integrated into vehicles, then autonomous driving sensing is enabled, but maintenance difficulty increases when failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing equipment is extracted from the vehicle structure and placed on the drone. When maintenance is needed, the drone can be remotely controlled to land and allow easy access to the sensing equipment, or the entire drone can be replaced more conveniently than vehicle-integrated equipment.
4Measurement precision
If cameras and radars are mounted in vehicles, then autonomous driving sensing is provided, but sensing errors occur due to dust and foreign objects
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is positioned dynamically on the drone rather than being fixed on the vehicle. The drone can maintain optimal positioning and distance from the vehicle, reducing the impact of dust and foreign objects that accumulate on stationary vehicle-mounted sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A system assisting autonomous driving using a drone include: a drone obtaining peripheral information through at least one or more detectors; a vehicle performing autonomous driving by using the peripheral information; and a server lending the drone in response to a drone rental request of the vehicle and assisting the autonomous driving of the vehicle.