Dynamic Landmark Detector Generation for Vehicle Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current localization systems for vehicles are limited in their ability to precisely and reliably determine position in environments where GPS signals are unavailable, such as parking garages, due to reliance on specific types of landmarks, which are often not available or sparse, hindering autonomous driving capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dynamically generating descriptor information for new landmark types not previously detected, creating a new detector module to recognize these types, allowing for flexible adaptation to different environmental conditions and utilization of generic or previously unknown landmarks, such as those defined by parking garage operators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses only pre-defined landmark types with existing detector modules, then the system complexity is low and reliability is high for known environments, but the adaptability to new environments and landmark types is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to new landmark typesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates detector modules for new landmark types by extracting descriptor information from environmental data and map data without requiring manual programming. The processing unit autonomously creates the detector module, stores it in memory, and integrates it into the detection system, enabling the system to adapt to new landmark types independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the detection system by dynamically adding new detector modules with different descriptor information for various landmark types. This allows the system to adapt to different environmental conditions and landmark types by modifying its detection capabilities through parameter changes rather than structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If the system manually programs detector modules for each landmark type, then the detection precision is high for known landmarks, but the time and effort required to adapt to new environments increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to adapt to new environmentsVSAvoidlandmark detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing map data with landmark position information and pre-defining descriptor information templates for different landmark types. When a new landmark type is encountered, the system can quickly generate a detector module using these pre-prepared resources, significantly reducing the time required to adapt to new environments while maintaining detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the system uses GPS satellite navigation, then the ease of operation is high and the coverage area is large, but the measurement precision is insufficient in areas where GPS signals cannot be received

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination precisionVSAvoidoperational coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses landmarks in the environment as intermediary reference points for position determination. Instead of relying directly on GPS signals, the system detects landmarks (such as parking garage structures, signs, or other identifiable features) and uses their known positions from map data to calculate the vehicle's position, enabling operation in GPS-denied environments with high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3814720B1Localization system and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3814720B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3814720B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a localization system in which map data comprising position data for recorded landmarks (21, 20, 23, 44) are provided, wherein each recorded landmark (21, 20, 23, 44) has an associated landmark type. Surroundings data are captured and the surroundings data are used to detect real landmarks. The detected real landmarks and the map data are used to determine a specific position. The method involves the real landmarks being detected by means of at least one detector module, wherein each detector module is associated with a landmark type. The map data are used to determine a new landmark type, and descriptor information is provided for the new landmark type. The descriptor information is used to produce a new detector module for the new landmark type. The invention further relates to a localisation system for carrying out the method according to the invention.