Offset Exteroceptive Sensor for Unobstructed Vehicle Perception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles and driver assistance systems face challenges in environmental perception when using a single exteroceptive sensor, particularly in scenarios where the sensor's field of view is obstructed or its positioning does not allow for effective detection of obstacles and localization.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves positioning a single front exteroceptive sensor on the front portion of the vehicle, offset from the mid-sagittal plane, and optionally a single rear sensor, to achieve an unobstructed horizontal field of view covering an angle greater than or equal to 180°, preferably 270°, thereby enhancing environmental perception and obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single exteroceptive sensor is positioned in the mid-sagittal plane of the vehicle, then the perception is symmetrical for the left and right of the vehicle, but the field of view is obstructed and the detection capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the single exteroceptive sensor offset from the mid-sagittal plane toward one side of the vehicle. This asymmetric placement compensates for the obstruction caused by the vehicle structure, allowing the sensor to achieve an unobstructed horizontal field of view of at least 180 degrees while maintaining effective environmental perception capability
2Reliability
If two exteroceptive sensors are placed at the front left and front right corners of the vehicle, then the field of view coverage is redundant and obstacle detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single exteroceptive sensor multi-functional by positioning it to simultaneously achieve localization via SLAM and obstacle detection beyond the first few meters. This single sensor replaces the conventional two-sensor configuration, performing multiple functions that previously required separate sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
3Measurement precision
If two exteroceptive sensors are placed on the roof at the front and rear on the mid-sagittal plane, then the localization via SLAM is effective, but the heading measurement precision is reduced and the risk of simultaneous FOV reduction is greater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the single sensor at a specific lateral offset location on the vehicle rather than in the center. This localized placement optimizes the sensor's field of view for both localization and heading measurement, achieving effective SLAM localization while maintaining heading measurement precision that would be lost in a centered two-sensor configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle for transporting goods and/or people in a traffic lane intended for right-hand driving or left-hand driving, for a given exteroceptive sensor model, a single sensor of this model is positioned on a front portion of the vehicle in order to obtain information about the environment in which the vehicle is located, referred to as a single front sensor. For right-hand driving the single front sensor is offset to the left and for left-hand driving the front sensor is offset to the right, from a mid-sagittal plane separating a left portion from a right portion of the vehicle.