Inertial Sensor Frame Reference for Vehicle Motion Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inertial sensors face challenges in accurately tracking object movement within a moving vehicle, as they cannot distinguish between vehicle-induced and object-induced inertial forces, leading to unreliable signals. Additionally, solutions combining inertial and visual tracking sensors are resource-intensive in terms of computing resources and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a transportable inertial sensor mounted on a portable device to establish a frame of reference, which then works in conjunction with another inertial sensor on the object to track movement. This system selectively uses the inertial sensor on the device or object based on factors such as affixation and contextual data to differentiate between vehicle and object movements, reducing the need for resource-consuming visual tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inertial sensors are used to track object movement in a moving vehicle, then motion tracking capability is provided, but the reliability of the signal deteriorates because the sensor cannot distinguish between vehicle-induced and object-induced inertial forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidmovement detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the inertial measurement task by using separate inertial sensors on different platforms (vehicle and object) to independently measure their respective motions. The vehicle-mounted sensor captures vehicle-induced inertial forces while the object-mounted sensor captures total inertial forces (vehicle + object). This segmentation allows the system to isolate and subtract vehicle motion components to obtain accurate object motion relative to the vehicle frame of reference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle-mounted inertial sensor acts as an intermediary that provides the vehicle's motion profile as a reference. This intermediary measurement is then used to compensate for vehicle-induced forces in the object's motion tracking, enabling the system to distinguish between vehicle and object contributions to the total inertial forces measured by the object-mounted sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If visual tracking sensors are added to enhance inertial sensor capabilities, then tracking accuracy in moving vehicles improves, but computing resource consumption and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces visual tracking sensors (optical/mechanical systems requiring significant processing) with an inertial sensing approach. By using inertial sensors on both the vehicle and object to mathematically determine relative motion, the system achieves accurate tracking without the high computational burden and power consumption associated with visual odometry and image processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the measurement parameters from visual features (requiring complex image processing) to inertial parameters (acceleration and orientation data from accelerometers and gyroscopes). This parameter transformation enables tracking through direct physical measurement rather than computational inference, significantly reducing processing requirements and power consumption while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables accurate and efficient motion tracking within vehicles with minimal user interaction, allowing easy portability between vehicles without relying on resource-intensive visual sensors, thus optimizing computing resources and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

inertial sensors are used in a wide range of applications for tracking the movement of objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS10111620B2Enhanced motion tracking using transportable inertial sensors to determine that a frame of reference is established

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Technologies are described herein for providing enhanced motion tracking using a transportable inertial sensor. Configurations disclosed herein utilize a first inertial sensor mounted to a device to determine a frame of reference, and a second inertial sensor mounted to an object to determine movement of the object within the frame of reference. Configurations disclosed herein determine if the frame of reference is established. If it is determined that the frame of reference is established, the first inertial sensor and the second inertial sensor are used to detect movement of the object within the frame of reference.