Vehicle Guardrail Radar Filtering for Accurate Front Pattern Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radar technologies for vehicle guardrail detection face challenges in accurately predicting guardrail patterns in the front area due to potential false detections and interference from opposite lanes, leading to decreased prediction accuracy and false warnings.

Innovation Solution

A guardrail detecting apparatus and method using multiple radar sensors installed at different vehicle locations to detect targets in specific areas, setting a guardrail detection area on the front side, and employing a controller to process signals for accurate guardrail pattern generation, including a signal processor, area setter, determiner, and guardrail generator to filter valid detections and generate precise patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If guardrail pattern is predicted by using detection signals received from the front side, then the guardrail detection can be performed in the front area, but wrong detection signals may be recognized due to reflected signals or inaccurate angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguardrail detection areaVSAvoidprediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection area is divided into multiple regions: a first detection area for stationary objects (guardrails) and a second detection area for moving objects. By segmenting the detection space and assigning different detection strategies to different regions, the system can focus computational resources on identifying guardrail patterns in the front area while filtering out false targets through spatial separation of detection zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different detection qualities and processing methods are applied to different spatial regions. The front detection area uses specialized processing for stationary object detection with specific angle and reflection criteria, while other areas use general moving object detection. This local differentiation of detection quality allows accurate guardrail identification in the front area without compromising overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If detection signals from the front side are used for guardrail pattern prediction, then front area coverage is achieved, but targets unrelated to vehicle driving may be recognized due to signals reflected from opposite lane

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront detection coverageVSAvoidfalse target recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system segments targets into stationary objects (guardrails) and moving objects, with further segmentation of the detection area into a first area for stationary objects and a second area for moving objects. This spatial and categorical segmentation enables the system to distinguish between genuine guardrail reflections and false targets from opposite lane vehicles by analyzing their spatial distribution and motion characteristics separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes detection signals through multiple stages: initial detection, classification into stationary/moving categories, spatial filtering based on detection area segmentation, and final pattern recognition. This intermediary processing layer filters out false targets from opposite lanes by applying criteria specific to each detection area before generating guardrail pattern predictions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If multiple radar sensors are installed at different vehicle locations to detect targets, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidsensor configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple radar sensors are configured to perform multiple functions: detecting stationary objects (guardrails) in the first detection area, detecting moving objects in the second detection area, and providing redundant coverage for verification. Each radar sensor serves as a multi-functional device that contributes to both guardrail detection and general obstacle detection, reducing the need for separate specialized sensors and thereby managing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Improves the accuracy of guardrail detection and minimizes false warnings by filtering out false targets, ensuring reliable guardrail pattern recognition and enhancing the reliability of driving assistance systems.

Implementation Method 1

A radar sensor 120 may include a first sensor 121, a second sensor 122, a third sensor 123, and a fourth sensor 124

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

a radar sensor 120 for acquiring detection information by processing signals received by radiating electromagnetic wave signals through a transmitting antenna and receiving the signals reflected from a target from a receiving antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4517370B1Guardrail detecting apparatus and guardrail detecting method
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD
  • EP4517370B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4517370B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4517370B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A guardrail detecting apparatus including a radar sensor that radiates radar signals in different directions of a vehicle to detect a guardrail on a front side of the vehicle, and a controller that selects a guardrail detection satisfying a preset condition from detection information received from the radar sensor in a guardrail detection area set on the front side of the vehicle, and generates a guardrail pattern based on guardrail coordinate information calculated by using coordinate information of the guardrail detection.