Electronic Horizon Packets for Low-Load Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in navigating efficiently due to the vast amounts of data required for processing and storing information from various sensors, such as cameras, GPS, and sensors, which can lead to limitations in navigation accuracy and data management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electronic horizon processor system that accesses maps and receives sensor data to localize the vehicle, determine an electronic horizon, and generate navigation information packets for executing navigational maneuvers, utilizing a header and variable-sized payload structure to efficiently manage and process data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mapping technology is used to navigate, then navigation coverage is comprehensive, but data storage and processing burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the map data into hierarchical levels (e.g., road network level, detail level, point-of-interest level) and only loads and processes the necessary segment corresponding to the electronic horizon (forward view) rather than the entire map. This allows comprehensive navigation coverage while reducing data storage and processing burden to only what is currently needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the relevant portion of map data (the electronic horizon) that is needed for current navigation decisions, separating it from the rest of the map data. This extraction principle reduces the data volume that must be stored and processed while maintaining navigation accuracy for the relevant area.
2Measurement precision
If vast volumes of sensor data are collected and analyzed, then navigation decisions are more accurate, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and organizing map data into efficient structures before runtime, and by continuously maintaining the electronic horizon prediction. This allows the system to quickly query and process only the necessary data during real-time operation, reducing processing time while maintaining localization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the subset of sensor data and map information that falls within the electronic horizon rather than analyzing all available data. This selective processing reduces computational load and processing time while maintaining sufficient accuracy for navigation decisions.
3Reliability
If complete map data is stored locally, then navigation reliability is improved, but device memory requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments map data into hierarchical levels and spatial zones, storing only the necessary segments (electronic horizon) in high-detail format locally, while other segments are stored in compressed or lower-detail formats. This segmentation allows navigation reliability to be maintained for the relevant area without requiring complete high-resolution map data to be stored locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (electronic horizon prediction mechanism) that mediates between the vehicle's current position and the map data. This intermediary predicts which map segments will be needed and prioritizes their loading, allowing the system to maintain navigation reliability with reduced local storage requirements by using compressed or remote storage for less critical data.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for navigating a host vehicle includes at least one electronic horizon processor to determine an electronic horizon for the host vehicle based on localization of the host vehicle relative to a map, generate a navigation information packet including information associated with the determined electronic horizon, and output the generated navigation information packet to one or more navigation system processors configured to cause the host vehicle to execute at least one navigational maneuver based on the information included in the navigation information packet.