Incremental Map Updates for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) face challenges in efficiently updating their digital maps to reflect changing road conditions, as existing methods require generating full map versions, which can be costly and inefficient, especially for small changes that are significant enough to impact driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows AVs to connect to a cloud computing service using a vehicle identification number (VIN) to receive targeted map updates specific to a geographic 'map zone,' enabling incremental updates to be applied over the base map without replacing it entirely, utilizing JSON files or similar formats, and incorporating data from both cloud and local sensors for real-time information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full map versions are generated and pushed to AVs, then map updates are complete and accurate, but bandwidth consumption and processing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed portions (diffs) from full map versions and transmits these incremental updates to AVs. Instead of pushing complete map datasets, the system identifies and transmits only the specific geographic areas that have changed, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining update accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the map update process into segmented regional updates based on geographic zones. Each map is divided into multiple geographic areas, and updates are applied independently to specific zones rather than refreshing entire maps, allowing selective transmission of only necessary update portions.
2Reliability
If full map versions are generated and pushed to AVs, then all AVs receive comprehensive updates, but processing time and system resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the essential update information (changes/diffs) rather than complete map versions. This extraction approach reduces the data volume that AVs need to process and store, thereby decreasing update deployment time while maintaining map completeness through incremental updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial updates to maps by transmitting only the necessary portions of map changes rather than complete updates. AVs receive and apply partial map diffs selectively, reducing processing time and resource consumption while maintaining sufficient map completeness for safe operation.
3Speed
If frequent map updates are pushed to AVs, then road condition changes are reflected quickly, but system overhead and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the minimal necessary update information for changed geographic areas. By sending only the essential diffs rather than complete map versions, the system enables frequent updates to reflect road condition changes quickly while minimizing network traffic and system overhead.
4Loss of energy
If incremental map updates are applied, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but map consistency and accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where AVs report detected road condition changes back to the map generation system. This feedback loop ensures that incremental updates are generated based on actual observed changes, maintaining map accuracy and consistency by continuously validating updates against real-world conditions detected by AV sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for enabling providing map updates to an autonomous vehicle (AV). The system can has four features that can (1) provide live map updates, (2) provide a mechanism to optimize map updates, (3) utilize AV sensors to provide local map updates and integrate into the broader map update system, and (4) provide a mechanism to provide low latency updates.