Lidar Obstacle Detection and Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lidar systems pose risks due to high-powered laser beams, which can cause damage or injury when an object, including a person, intersects the beam, limiting their use near the ground and necessitating additional speed measurement systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for identifying solid obstacles in a lidar system's laser beam by evaluating lidar signal parameters such as amplitude and duration, and reducing the beam's power when an obstacle is detected, using a calibration phase to set thresholds based on probability laws and spectral width analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-powered laser beam is used for lidar measurement, then measurement precision and availability are improved, but safety risk increases due to potential damage to objects or injury to persons intersecting the beam
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by analyzing lidar signal characteristics (amplitude, duration, spectral width) to identify solid obstacles before they can be damaged by the high-powered beam. The calibration phase establishes thresholds in advance to enable rapid identification and power reduction when obstacles are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors lidar signal parameters and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the laser beam power. When solid obstacles are detected through signal analysis, the system automatically reduces power to prevent damage, and can restore power when obstacles are no longer present.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laser beam power is reduced to ensure safety, then safety risk decreases, but measurement precision and availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts laser beam power based on real-time detection of solid obstacles. Power is maintained at high levels for normal operation to ensure measurement precision, and automatically reduced only when solid obstacles are detected through signal characteristic analysis, thus maintaining precision while ensuring safety.
3Reliability
If additional systems are added to measure ground speed, then measurement availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing lidar system for multiple functions: both atmospheric speed measurement and solid obstacle detection. By analyzing the same lidar signal characteristics (amplitude, duration, spectral width) differently, the system achieves ground speed measurement capability without adding separate measurement systems.
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
Effectively identifies solid obstacles to prevent damage and injury, allowing safer operation of lidar systems on ground-based platforms without the need for additional speed measurement systems, while maintaining the ability to measure speed relative to the atmosphere.
Implementation Method 1
The backscattering of the laser beam on the particles present in the atmosphere, for example dust or water droplets, generates a signal detected by the lidar system
Implementation Method 2
receiving a lidar signal corresponding to the reflection of the beam on at least one diffuser present in the beam
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying an obstacle (O) in the laser beam (F) of a lidar system includes: commanding the transmission of a laser beam (F); and receiving a lidar signal (S) corresponding to the reflection of the beam (F) on a diffuser present in the beam (F). The detection method further includes: evaluating a set of first parameters of the lidar signal, the set of first parameters including at least an amplitude and a duration, a first detection moment being defined for the lidar signal (S), the duration being defined at each moment as the time elapsed since the first detection moment; identifying an obstacle (O) present in the beam (F) when the amplitude is greater than a first threshold and the duration is greater than a second threshold; and decreasing the power of the beam (F).