3D Flash LiDAR Parking Assist for Small Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking assist systems using ultrasonic sensors and cameras face challenges in accurately recognizing parking spaces and obstacles due to diffused reflection, sensitivity to environmental changes, and inability to detect small or rapidly moving objects, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A parking assist apparatus and method utilizing a three-dimensional flash Lidar to acquire and generate intensity and depth information, creating a three-dimensional volume image for accurate determination of parking spaces and obstacles, enabling more precise identification of available spaces and potential hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an ultrasonic sensor is used for parking assist, then large objects can be easily recognized, but small objects such as parking preventing cones cannot be easily recognized and the recognition rate is low due to diffused reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic sensor (acoustic field) with a Lidar sensor (optical field) for parking space recognition. The Lidar uses laser beams to illuminate the parking space and measures the reflected light intensity and time of flight, which overcomes the diffused reflection problem that affects ultrasonic sensors. This substitution of sensing modality enables accurate detection of both large and small objects including parking preventing cones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from ultrasonic wave properties to optical properties (light intensity, wavelength, time of flight). By measuring the intensity of reflected laser light and the time taken for light to travel to and from the parking space, the system achieves higher measurement precision for detecting small objects and surfaces that cause diffused reflection.
2Measurement precision
If an ultrasonic sensor is used for parking assist, then the system is simple, but the sensor is insensitive to recognition of objects rapidly moving like moving pedestrians
Solution Approach 1:
The Lidar sensor operates by emitting periodic laser pulses and measuring the time of flight for each pulse. This periodic emission allows the system to capture multiple measurements over time, enabling detection of rapidly moving objects like pedestrians by comparing successive measurements and calculating their motion patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic sensing system with an optical Lidar system that has faster response times. The speed of light is significantly faster than sound, allowing the Lidar to detect and track rapidly moving objects with higher temporal resolution and responsiveness.
3Measurement precision
If a camera is used for parking assist, then the system can capture images, but the camera is sensitive to environment changes such as image state and illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the camera (optical imaging system sensitive to illumination) with a Lidar sensor that actively emits laser light. The Lidar measures the time of flight and intensity of reflected light, creating depth maps and intensity images that are much less sensitive to ambient illumination conditions than passive camera systems. This allows accurate parking space recognition in various lighting environments including darkness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from measuring only intensity (camera) to measuring both time of flight and intensity (Lidar). The time of flight measurement provides direct depth information that is independent of illumination conditions, while the intensity measurement provides surface reflection characteristics. This dual-parameter approach compensates for environmental variations.
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 provides more accurate information on parking spaces and obstacles, enhancing driver safety by effectively addressing the limitations of ultrasonic sensors and cameras, particularly in recognizing small objects and moving pedestrians.
Implementation Method 1
a three-dimensional flash Lidar mounted in a vehicle to illuminate a parking space with laser light and thereby to measure intensity and time of flight
Implementation Method 2
measure intensity and time of flight and to thereby generate depth information and intensity information
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a parking assist apparatus, a parking assist method capable of more accurately recognizing a parking space and identifying and recognizing obstacles using a three-dimensional flash Lidar and a parking assist system using the same The parking assist apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an information unit acquiring information collected by using a three-dimensional flash Lidar; and a determination unit determining at least any one of a parking space and presence and absence of obstacles using the information acquired by the information unit.