Illuminated Sensor Target for Vehicle Calibration Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles face challenges in sensor calibration due to manufacturing defects and environmental factors, leading to inconsistent sensor readings and potential safety risks, as existing calibration methods do not adequately account for intrinsic and extrinsic properties of sensors.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic calibration scene with an automated turntable and illuminated sensor targets is used to improve the efficiency, comprehensiveness, and consistency of vehicle sensor calibration, allowing sensors to capture data at various orientations and calibrate based on recognized patterns, correcting for lens distortion and other sensor imperfections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional calibration methods are used without illumination, then the calibration process is simpler, but the measurement precision and reliability of sensor calibration deteriorates due to insufficient contrast and detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
An illuminated calibration target serves as an intermediary object between the vehicle sensors and the calibration environment. The target includes a patterned surface with high-contrast geometric shapes that can be easily detected by sensors, along with illumination sources that actively light up the target to enhance visibility and detection accuracy under various lighting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration target employs high-contrast color patterns and reflective surfaces that change apparent brightness under different lighting conditions. The illumination sources activate specific regions of the target to create strong contrast differences, enabling sensors to accurately detect edges, corners, and geometric features for precise calibration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If calibration is performed in diverse environmental conditions, then the adaptability and robustness of sensor calibration improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring calibration targets increases due to varying lighting and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system is designed to be dynamic and adaptive to changing environmental conditions. The illumination sources can be activated or deactivated based on ambient light levels, and the calibration target incorporates reflective materials that adapt to different lighting scenarios. The system can adjust illumination intensity and timing to maintain optimal detection conditions across diverse environments.
3Productivity
If multiple sensors are calibrated simultaneously using static targets, then the calibration time is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and consistency deteriorate due to sensor variations and positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration target is designed as a universal multi-functional device that can be simultaneously detected by multiple different sensor types (cameras, LIDAR, radar) with varying fields of view and detection characteristics. The target incorporates geometric patterns, reflective surfaces, and illuminated regions that provide consistent reference points for calibrating multiple sensors at once, accommodating sensor variations through comprehensive feature detection.
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
The solution enhances the accuracy and reliability of sensor calibration, ensuring that vehicles achieve a robust understanding of their environment, reducing the risk of accidents and improving the reliability of sensor data for mapping and navigation.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor target includes a light source and a substrate. The light source is positioned along a rear side of the substrate and is configured to emit light in a forward direction toward the vehicle sensor when the vehicle sensor is calibrated using the sensor target.
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated sensor target includes a light source. Actuating the light source illuminates the sensor target. The illuminated sensor target is recognized by one or more sensors of a vehicle during a calibration process, and is used to calibrate the one or more sensors of the vehicle during the calibration process. The illuminated sensor target is illuminated during at least part of the calibration process, which may involve rotation of the vehicle about a turntable, with the illuminated sensor target positioned within a range of the turntable along with other sensors targets, which may also be illuminated.