Modular Sensor Pod Calibration for Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor placement in vehicles, whether integrated into the vehicle body or mounted externally, faces challenges such as limited field of view, complex installation processes, and potential damage from external impacts, which can lead to delays and insufficient data coverage, especially in compact and autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The use of self-contained sensor pods removably coupled to the vehicle, featuring a cast frame with multiple sensors of different types, overlapping fields of view for redundancy, and integrated cleaning and energy management systems to enhance data coverage and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If sensors are integrated into the vehicle body, then the vehicle structure is compact, but the field of view of the sensors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple sensor pods that can be distributed around the vehicle exterior. Each pod contains multiple sensors and provides a specific field of view, collectively achieving comprehensive coverage while maintaining a compact overall architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pods are positioned in three-dimensional space around the vehicle exterior, utilizing spatial distribution to expand the total field of view coverage without increasing the vehicle's footprint or compromising compactness.
2Area of moving object
If sensors are mounted externally on the vehicle, then the field of view is improved, but the likelihood of impacting external objects increases causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pods are designed with impact-absorbing materials and structures that cushion against external impacts before they can damage the sensitive sensors inside, protecting the sensors from harm while maintaining external positioning for optimal field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors are nested within protective housings or pods that provide physical protection. The pod structure acts as a protective container that shields the internal sensors from external impacts while allowing the pod to be positioned externally for optimal sensing coverage.
3Loss of information
If multiple sensors are installed to provide comprehensive coverage, then data coverage is improved, but the complexity of installation and calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pods are pre-calibrated and pre-assembled with multiple sensors configured in specific geometric arrangements before installation on the vehicle. This preliminary preparation reduces on-site installation and calibration complexity while ensuring comprehensive data coverage is achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensors are combined within each sensor pod in a integrated assembly, reducing the total number of separate installation operations. The sensors within each pod work together as a unified unit, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
4Reliability
If sensors are positioned to provide overlapping fields of view for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but the number of sensors required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into multiple pods, each containing multiple sensors that provide overlapping fields of view. This segmentation allows for redundancy within each pod while the overall system maintains efficient use of sensors through strategic positioning of the pods themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor pod system includes one or more sensor pods with a plurality of sensors configured to collect data from an environment. A sensor pod may have an effective field of view created by individual sensors with overlapping fields of view. The sensor pod system may include sensors of different types and modalities. Sensor pods of the sensor pod system may be modularly installed on a vehicle, for example, an autonomous vehicle and collect and provide data of the environment during operation of the vehicle. A combination of techniques may be used to calibrate a sensor pod prior to installation in the vehicle and may be used to determine if the sensor pod is compatible with other sensor pods and may also be used to calibrate other sensors when integrating the sensor pod into the vehicle.