Radar Sensor Blockage Detection via Raw Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar sensors in detection systems, such as those used in autonomous vehicles, face challenges in detecting blockages like snow, mud, and dirt, which can partially or completely obstruct their field of view, leading to ambiguity in low detection rates due to unknown object presence or sensor malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A radar sensor system that includes a receiver antenna and processing circuitry to generate raw sensor data, compute a blockage state based on detected objects and signal characteristics, and output this state to a computing system, using methods like signal thresholding and noise analysis to determine blockage and material type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a second sensor is mounted proximate to the radar sensor to monitor blockage, then blockage detection capability is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radar sensor uses its own raw data and detection output to compute its own blockage state through signal thresholding and noise analysis, eliminating the need for external monitoring sensors. The system serves itself by analyzing its own performance metrics to detect blockage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes raw radar data and detection results to derive blockage state information. This intermediary processing layer acts as a mediator between the radar sensor and the blockage detection function, avoiding the need for additional physical sensors.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to monitor radar sensor state, then blockage detection accuracy is improved, but the additional sensors may be subject to the same obcurants and rendered inoperative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical monitoring approach (using additional physical sensors like cameras) with an electronic signal processing approach. By substituting physical monitoring mechanisms with electronic analysis of radar signals themselves, the system avoids the vulnerability of additional sensors to the same environmental obcurants.
3Reliability
If raw sensor data is processed to compute blockage state, then detection reliability is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the specific portions of raw sensor data that are relevant for blockage detection (signal thresholding and noise analysis) rather than processing the entire data stream comprehensively. This selective processing approach maintains detection reliability while reducing computational time requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A radar sensor is disclosed herein, where the radar sensor detects blockage based upon detected radar signals. The radar sensor includes an antenna that detects electromagnetic radiation in a field of view and processing circuitry that is operably coupled to the antenna. Raw sensor data is generated based upon the detected electromagnetic radiation. A detection list is computed based upon the raw sensor data, and a blockage state for the radar sensor is computed based upon the detection list and the raw sensor data.