LiDAR Hardware Pre-Processing for Low-Latency Data Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

LiDAR data processing, such as point cloud fusion, is latency-prone due to the significant amount of real-time point data handled in software, leading to delays in processing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing hardware logic with customized Register Transfer Level (RTL) logic for parallel decoding of LiDAR data, allowing sector-wise data collection and processing, which reduces latency by synchronizing LiDAR and image data and eliminating the need for coordinate conversions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If LiDAR data is processed in software without hardware assistance, then flexibility and ease of implementation are maintained, but processing latency increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing latencyVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A hardware pre-processor is introduced as an intermediary component between the LiDAR sensor and the main processor. This pre-processor performs initial decoding and parsing of LiDAR data in hardware, reducing the processing burden on software and main processors while maintaining system flexibility. The pre-processor acts as a mediator that handles time-critical operations in hardware while allowing higher-level processing to remain in software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If significant amounts of real-time point data are handled in software, then processing flexibility is maintained, but processing speed and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing system is segmented into distinct functional components: a hardware pre-processor for initial decoding and parsing, and main processors for higher-level fusion and analysis. This segmentation allows time-critical operations to be performed in hardware at higher speeds while maintaining processing flexibility in software for complex operations, thereby improving overall processing speed without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If LiDAR data is processed without hardware pre-processing, then system simplicity is maintained, but processing latency and redundancy increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing latencyVSAvoidsystem implementation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hardware pre-processor performs preliminary decoding and parsing of LiDAR data before the main processing stages. By performing these initial operations in hardware, the system reduces processing latency and prepares data in advance for subsequent software processing, improving overall system efficiency while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12613342B2Methods and apparatus with hardware logic for pre-processing LiDAR data

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 MOTIONAL AD LLC

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus including an input interface. The input interface is configured to obtain input sensor data. For example, the input sensor data includes light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data indicative of an environment. The apparatus includes a pre-processor communicatively coupled to the input interface. The pre-processor optionally includes a parser logic. The pre-processor includes a decoder communicatively coupled to the parser logic. The segmentation logic is configured to parse the input sensor data. The decoder is configured to decode the parsed input sensor data. The pre-processor is configured to provide the decoded input sensor data and the parsed input sensor data to a processor for fusion.