Radar Sensor Driving Corridor Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining a motor vehicle's location and orientation within a driving corridor are imprecise, particularly in complex traffic situations, as GPS data lacks sufficient detail for accurate positioning and orientation relative to the road boundaries, which is crucial for safety and driver assistance systems.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing high-resolution radar data from semiconductor-based radar sensors to identify and classify features that define the driving corridor, allowing for precise determination of the vehicle's position and orientation, and integrating this information with other sensor data for enhanced situation analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS data is used to determine vehicle position and orientation, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement precision is extremely imprecise and insufficient for accurate positioning relative to road boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle position and orientation precisionVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines GPS data with radar sensor data to determine vehicle position and orientation. The radar sensor detects features along the driving corridor while GPS provides coarse positioning, and the control unit fuses these data sources to achieve precise positioning relative to road boundaries without relying solely on high-complexity alternative systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces radar sensor detection of environmental features (trees, poles, buildings) as an intermediary to translate imprecise GPS coordinates into precise relative positioning. By detecting the positions of stationary features and comparing them with map data, the system derives accurate vehicle orientation and position relative to the driving corridor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If radar sensors are used to detect features and determine precise location information, then the measurement precision improves significantly, but the device complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation information accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radar sensor serves multiple functions: it detects stationary features for positioning, identifies the driving corridor boundaries, and provides data for both current position determination and predictive positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit stores map data containing positions of stationary features in advance. During operation, the system compares real-time radar detections with pre-stored reference data to rapidly determine vehicle position and orientation, reducing real-time processing complexity while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If GPS data alone is used for positioning, then the system complexity remains low, but the reliability of safety and driver assistance systems deteriorates due to insufficient positioning detail in complex traffic situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety system reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces reliance on purely satellite-based GPS positioning with a radar-based electromagnetic detection system for determining vehicle position and orientation. The radar sensor actively detects environmental features and uses their positions to calculate precise location information, providing reliable data for safety systems in complex traffic situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously compares radar-detected feature positions with stored map data to verify and correct vehicle position and orientation estimates. This feedback mechanism ensures high reliability by constantly validating positioning information against known reference data, particularly important for safety-critical functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides highly accurate location information, reducing false warnings and improving the performance of vehicle systems by enabling early recognition of critical traffic situations and timely interventions.

Implementation Method 1

radar data from a radar sensor are used to identify at least one feature describing a course of the driving corridor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentEP3259614B1Method for ascertaining a piece of local information for a motor vehicle in relation to a driving corridor, and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 AUDI AG
  • EP3259614B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3259614B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Method for ascertaining a piece of local information, comprising a position and/or an orientation, for a motor vehicle (1) in relation to an available driving corridor in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle (1), wherein radar data describing the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) are recorded using at least one radar sensor (2), at least one non-moving feature describing the boundary of the driving corridor is identified in the radar data and located and is evaluated in order to ascertain a piece of driving corridor information describing the driving corridor in a vehicle coordinate system, the piece of local information being derived from the piece of driving corridor information.