Map Data Accuracy via Pedestrian Path Aggregation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current map data in motor vehicles lacks accuracy and reliability, especially regarding pedestrian and cyclist paths, which are crucial for safety in road traffic, as they often deviate from designated routes and traditional map representations.

Innovation Solution

A method where position data from multiple vehicles about detected people is aggregated to determine actual paths and stopping points, which are then provided as map data, using environmental sensors and a central data processing device to enhance safety by accounting for real traffic routes and hazards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional map data based on designated routes is used, then map data structure is simple and easy to maintain, but accuracy and reliability of pedestrian and cyclist paths are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of map dataVSAvoidcomplexity of map data system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting position data from multiple vehicles and determining actual paths used by pedestrians and cyclists before providing this data as map information. The central data processing device aggregates position data from multiple second motor vehicles, determines routes that were at least partially used by detected persons, and provides this determined route data as map data to the first motor vehicle, ensuring accurate path information is available in advance for safety-critical applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If swarm data from multiple vehicles is collected and processed, then accuracy of actual paths is improved, but data processing complexity and communication requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of map dataVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A central data processing device serves as an intermediary that receives position data from multiple second motor vehicles, aggregates this data, determines actual paths used by pedestrians and cyclists, and provides the processed route data to the first motor vehicle. This intermediary approach distributes the processing complexity centrally while providing simplified, reliable output data to individual vehicles, balancing reliability improvement with system complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3663719B1Method for providing map data in a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and central data processing device
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3663719B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3663719B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing map data (K) in a first motor vehicle (14). The invention provides that position data (P) recorded by several second motor vehicles (14) concerning persons (F1, F2, F3, F4) in an environment (18) of the respective second motor vehicles (14) are transmitted to a central data processing unit (20), depending on the aggregated position data (P), at least one route (22a, 22b) that was at least partially used by at least some of the persons (F1, F2, F3, F4) is determined by means of the central data processing unit (20), and route data (W) of the determined at least one route (22a, 22b) are provided as part of the map data (K) in the first motor vehicle (14).