Offboard Sensor Alignment for Vehicle Blind-Spot Obstacle Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle assistance systems face challenges in accurately guiding and controlling vehicles, particularly in complex scenarios like parking, especially for vehicles with blind spots such as semitrailers, where existing systems struggle to provide comprehensive obstacle recognition and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle assistance system utilizing both onboard and offboard obstacle recognition sensors, with a synchronization circuit to align the offboard sensor relative to the vehicle, and a grid map integration to provide a consolidated view for autonomous navigation, including a bidirectional wireless communication link and a marker-based tracking system for precise alignment and obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only onboard obstacle recognition sensors are used in the vehicle, then the system structure remains simple, but the measurement precision and coverage of obstacles (especially in blind spots) deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
An offboard obstacle recognition sensor is introduced as an intermediary component positioned outside the vehicle to detect obstacles in blind spots. This sensor communicates with the vehicle's control unit, providing additional obstacle detection data that complements the onboard sensors. The offboard sensor acts as a mediator that extends the detection capability without requiring direct integration into the vehicle's structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple levels of sensor data processing where the offboard obstacle recognition sensor's data is nested within the overall vehicle control system. The control unit receives and processes data from both onboard and offboard sensors, creating a hierarchical structure where external sensor information is incorporated into the vehicle's native detection framework.
2Measurement precision
If offboard obstacle recognition sensors are added to improve obstacle detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes data from onboard sensors, receives data from offboard sensors, determines alignment between different sensor coordinate systems, and generates control commands. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single processing unit rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the coordinate systems of onboard and offboard sensors by determining the alignment between them. The control unit integrates data from both sensor types into a unified obstacle representation, combining multiple data sources into a single coherent model that the vehicle can use for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
3Reliability
If alignment determination between offboard and onboard sensors is implemented, then the reliability of integrated obstacle detection improves, but the loss of time for processing and synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment determination between the coordinate systems of onboard and offboard sensors. By pre-establishing the transformation relationships and coordinate alignments, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time operation. The alignment parameters are determined in advance and can be applied directly when integrating sensor data, rather than calculating transformations in real-time.
4Ease of operation
If a grid map is generated from sensor data for autonomous navigation, then the ease of operation for vehicle control improves, but the loss of time for map generation and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual obstacle detection and navigation planning with an automated grid map generation process. The control unit automatically processes sensor data to create a structured grid map representation of the environment, eliminating the need for manual mapping. This automated mechanical process substitutes human effort with algorithmic processing, improving ease of operation despite the computational time required.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle assistance or control system with a vehicle and with an in particular autonomously drivable offboard obstacle recognition sensor for recognizing obstacles to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an onboard obstacle recognition sensor for recognizing obstacles to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle assistance or control system includes a synchronization circuit for determining the alignment of the offboard obstacle recognition sensor relative to the vehicle, and/or relative to the onboard obstacle recognition sensor depending on an output signal from the offboard obstacle recognition sensor and an output signal from the onboard obstacle recognition sensor.