Autonomous Vehicle Radar Restriction Zones for Hidden Object Avoidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems, such as millimeter wave radar, struggle to detect objects in three-dimensional spaces when there are objects with significantly different reflected power levels, leading to difficulty in separating and detecting objects with low reflected power levels.
Innovation Solution
A collision avoidance apparatus for autonomous vehicles that uses a radar sensor to detect objects and determine their reflected power levels, generating information about a travel-restricted area adjacent to objects with high reflected power levels to prevent the vehicle from entering areas where objects with low reflected power levels may be undetectable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If more antennas are used to increase separation resolution with millimeter wave radar, then the detection capability for objects with low reflected power is improved, but the size of the radar system increases and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by defining a travel-restricted area in advance based on the detected object's position and reflected power level. Instead of relying on the radar to detect all objects (which would require more antennas), the system proactively creates a restricted zone around high-reflected-power objects where low-reflected-power objects are likely to be hidden. This preliminary definition of safe travel paths resolves the detection limitation without adding hardware complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If millimeter wave radar is used to detect objects in three-dimensional space, then the detection coverage is improved, but objects with low reflected power levels become difficult to detect when superimposed on objects with high reflected power levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary concept: the travel-restricted area. This virtual zone acts as a mediator between the radar's limited separation resolution and the vehicle's safety requirements. By treating the region around high-reflected-power objects as restricted, the system indirectly protects against low-reflected-power objects that cannot be directly detected, resolving the contradiction between coverage and detection accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If the radar system maintains existing hardware configuration, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to detect objects with low reflected power levels adjacent to high reflected power level objects is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the existing radar system by introducing reflected power level as a critical parameter for decision-making. Instead of relying solely on detection capability, the system uses the reflected power level to dynamically define travel-restricted areas. This parameter-based approach allows the existing hardware to achieve improved collision avoidance reliability through intelligent processing rather than hardware upgrades.
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
The apparatus effectively avoids collisions with objects that are difficult to detect by defining a travel-restricted area based on the reflected power levels, allowing the vehicle to safely navigate around undetectable objects.
Implementation Method 1
at least one radar sensor for transmitting a radar wave and receiving a reflected wave from an object
Data Source
AI summary
The technique allows avoiding collision with an object that is difficult to detect with a radar sensor. A collision avoidance apparatus is an apparatus for an autonomous vehicle including at least one radar sensor for transmitting a radar wave and receiving a reflected wave from an object. The apparatus includes a processor that obtains, from a signal received by the at least one radar sensor, information about a position of the object and information about a reflected power level of the reflected wave, a generator that generates, in response to the reflected power level being higher than or equal to a predetermined value, information about a travel-restricted area being an area adjacent to the object and in which the autonomous vehicle is restricted from traveling, and an output unit that outputs the information about the travel-restricted area.