LiDAR Suspended Load Detection for Autonomous Vehicle Maneuvering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in detecting suspended loads, which can lead to safety hazards due to the lack of human visibility and positional feedback, making it difficult to avoid collisions or damage from falling loads.
Innovation Solution
The system employs LiDAR scanning devices mounted perpendicular to the autonomous vehicle to collect data points, cluster them, and extract features to identify suspended loads, controlling vehicle maneuvering based on detection, including halting movement when within a predetermined range of the load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous vehicles operate without human intervention, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but safety and detection capability deteriorate due to lack of human visibility and positional feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human visual and tactile sensing systems with LiDAR scanning devices and sensor arrays that emit laser pulses and detect reflected light to create three-dimensional point cloud maps of the environment, enabling autonomous vehicles to detect suspended loads without human intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary processing systems including point cloud generation modules, feature extraction algorithms, and suspended load detection algorithms that analyze sensor data to identify suspended loads, acting as intermediaries between raw sensor input and vehicle control decisions
2Measurement precision
If LiDAR scanning devices are mounted perpendicular to the autonomous vehicle, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection system into multiple independent LiDAR scanning devices mounted at different locations and orientations on the autonomous vehicle, each capturing data from specific zones to collectively form a comprehensive three-dimensional point cloud map of the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the perpendicular LiDAR scanning devices to perform multiple functions: mapping the general environment, detecting suspended loads, determining spatial relationships between objects, and providing positional feedback for vehicle maneuvering control
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
Enhances safety by enabling autonomous vehicles to detect and avoid suspended loads, preventing collisions and potential damage, through precise identification and controlled maneuvering.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, from a scanning device mounted on and perpendicular to a top surface of the autonomous vehicle, a plurality of data points surrounding the autonomous vehicle
Implementation Method 2
receiving, from a scanning device mounted on and perpendicular to a top surface of the autonomous vehicle, a plurality of data points surrounding the autonomous vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer programmable products are described herein for detecting a suspended load by an autonomous vehicle maneuvering about an environment. A scanning device mounted on and perpendicular to a top surface of the autonomous vehicle receives a plurality of data points surrounding the autonomous vehicle. A point detection module detects whether an object is present within a detection range of the autonomous vehicle by: clustering subsets of the plurality of data points and determining whether at least one clustered subset of the plurality of data points is within the detection range. Based on the object being present within the detection range, at least three features are extracted from the object to detect whether the object is a suspended load. The maneuvering of the autonomous vehicle is controlled based on detection of the suspended load.