Automotive Radar Sensor Blockage Detection Using Adaptive Overlap Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for detecting blockages in automotive radar sensors using overlapping field-of-view (FOVs) can generate false alerts due to sensor misalignment, which is often caused by improper installation or collisions, leading to inaccurate detection of foreign matter or objects.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves receiving a tracked object list from a second radar sensor, determining the mounting angle of the first radar sensor, adjusting the overlap zone based on this angle, and identifying relevant detections to accurately determine blockages, using an auto-alignment process to adapt to sensor misalignment and reduce false alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple radar sensors with overlapping field-of-view are used for blockage detection, then blockage detection capability is improved, but false blockage detections increase due to sensor misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the overlap zone parameters (azimuth angle range and range) based on the determined mounting angle of the radar sensor. By changing the positional parameters of the overlap zone to match the actual sensor orientation, the system maintains accurate blockage detection while eliminating false detections caused by fixed parameter mismatches
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines the actual mounting angle of the radar sensor and uses this information to adjust the overlap zone configuration. This feedback mechanism ensures that the overlap zone continuously corresponds to the actual antenna radiation pattern, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and accuracy
2Device complexity
If a fixed overlap zone is used for blockage detection, then system complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to sensor misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static overlap zone into a dynamic one that automatically adapts to the radar sensor's actual mounting angle. The overlap zone's positional parameters are adjusted based on real-time sensor orientation data, allowing the system to maintain high detection accuracy without requiring complex manual recalibration procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A blockage detection system and methods for use in a radar sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system are described. The blockage detection system and method operate in systems including two or more radar sensors having overlapping field-of-views (FOVs). The blockage detection system includes a storage in a first radar sensor having stored therein a tracked object list including detections/tracks for one or more targets made by a second radar sensor and a processor for adjusting an overlap zone associated with the first radar sensor based upon an estimated mounting angle of the first radar sensor. The system further includes a processor coupled to the storage and processor configured to identify one or more relevant detections/tracks from the tracked object list using the adjusted overlap zone and a blockage detection processor configured to receive the relevant detections/tracks from said processor and configured to compare the relevant detections/tracks to detections/tracks for one or more targets made by the first radar sensor.