Vehicle Path Prediction Using Future Frames for Occluded Lanes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current path prediction systems for intelligent driving monitoring systems (IDMS) and autonomous driving systems face challenges in situations with unclear or occluded lane markings, requiring robust methods to determine a safe path of travel, especially in complex and dynamic real-world scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The 'Back-to-the-Future' approach uses future frames and sensor data to determine a path of travel, incorporating information from 'future' data relative to a given time, enabling robust path prediction even in challenging conditions by mapping the path to a camera reference frame and using a combination of sensors like GPS, Lidar, and radar, and machine learning models for improved accuracy and reduced latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional path prediction methods are used, then the system can operate with current data only, but the accuracy and reliability deteriorate in situations with unclear or occluded lane markings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath prediction reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and storing future frame data and sensor information in advance. This allows the path prediction system to access previously captured future states when current lane markings are unclear or occluded, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time processing during critical moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism by mapping determined paths from future frames back to the current camera reference frame. This intermediary mapping process allows the system to bridge the gap between historical future data and current decision-making, enabling reliable path prediction even when direct current observations are insufficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If future frames and sensor data are incorporated to improve path prediction accuracy, then the reliability improves, but the processing complexity and data handling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath prediction accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential path information from future frames and sensor data, rather than processing all raw data. By extracting and storing only the determined paths and relevant features for later mapping, the system achieves high prediction accuracy while minimizing the complexity of data handling and processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of time

If real-time or near-real-time path prediction is implemented, then the response time is reduced, but the accuracy may deteriorate due to limited processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprediction latencyVSAvoidpath prediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary path determination on future frames in advance, storing the results for later retrieval and mapping. This preliminary processing allows the system to provide real-time or near-real-time predictions with high accuracy, as the computationally intensive path analysis has already been completed before the critical decision moment arrives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3433131B1Advanced path prediction
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 NETRADYNE INC
  • EP3433131B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3433131B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3433131B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for mapping a determined path of travel. The path of travel may be mapped to a camera view of a camera affixed to a vehicle. In some embodiments, the path of travel may be mapped to another view that is based on a camera, such as a bird's eye view anchored to the camera's position at a given time. These systems and methods may determine the path of travel by incorporating data from later points in time.