Wide-View LiDAR Scanning with Adaptive Resolution Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LIDAR systems have limitations in providing adaptive angular resolution, leading to suboptimal object detection and navigation in autonomous vehicles, particularly in identifying edges of objects, moving objects, distant objects, and objects with insufficient resolution in dynamic environments.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR device with dynamically adjustable angular resolution by modifying the laser pulse rate or beam slew rate to enhance scanning resolution in specific regions of the environmental scene, allowing for higher spatial resolution in areas critical for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the LIDAR system uses a fixed low pulse rate to maintain thermal stability, then the device can operate sustainably without thermal damage, but the angular resolution and object detection precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pulse rate adjustment where the LIDAR system varies its pulse emission rate based on operational conditions. The controller monitors thermal state and adjusts pulse rate accordingly, enabling the system to operate at high pulse rates when cooling and maintain thermal stability when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal reliability and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (pulse rate) dynamically based on thermal state. By adjusting the pulse rate from low to high and vice versa, the system optimizes both thermal stability and angular resolution at different times, preventing thermal damage while achieving high precision when conditions permit
2Measurement precision
If the LIDAR system increases the pulse rate to improve angular resolution, then the measurement precision improves, but the device generates excessive heat and risks thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic high pulse rate operation followed by cooling periods. Instead of continuous high pulse rate operation that would cause thermal damage, the controller implements periodic bursts of high pulse rate to achieve necessary measurement precision while allowing the device to cool down between bursts, thus managing temperature while maintaining measurement quality
3Measurement precision
If the LIDAR system scans the entire scene uniformly at high resolution, then the object detection precision improves, but the scanning time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable resolution scanning where different regions of the scene are scanned at different pulse rates. Regions containing objects of interest or requiring higher detection precision are scanned at high pulse rates, while empty or less critical regions are scanned at low pulse rates. This local differentiation maintains object detection precision where needed while improving overall scanning productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies high pulse rate operation only partially to specific regions of interest rather than uniformly across the entire scene. This partial application of high resolution scanning to critical areas while using low resolution for other areas achieves sufficient object detection precision without the excessive time cost of uniform high resolution scanning
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 enables improved object detection and navigation by providing enhanced angular resolution in critical areas, allowing for more accurate identification of obstacles and dynamic environmental features, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of autonomous vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
Individual points are measured by generating a laser pulse and detecting a returning pulse, if any, reflected from an environmental object
Implementation Method 2
determining the distance to the reflective object according to the time delay between the emitted pulse and the reception of the reflected pulse
Implementation Method 3
The solid angle defined by each emitted light pulse is influenced by the narrowness of the emitted pulse (e.g., the amount of beam divergence)
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method include scanning a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device through a range of orientations corresponding to a scanning zone while emitting light pulses from the LIDAR device. The method also includes receiving returning light pulses corresponding to the light pulses emitted from the LIDAR device and determining initial point cloud data based on time delays between emitting the light pulses and receiving the corresponding returning light pulses and the orientations of the LIDAR device. The initial point cloud data has an initial angular resolution. The method includes identifying, based on the initial point cloud data, a reflective feature in the scanning zone and determining an enhancement region and an enhanced angular resolution for a subsequent scan to provide a higher spatial resolution in at least a portion of subsequent point cloud data from the subsequent scan corresponding to the reflective feature.