Vehicle Radar Target Detection in Tunnels
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environments like tunnels or multistory parking lots, vehicle-mounted radar devices detect numerous stationary reflection points from ceilings, making it difficult to distinguish them from overdrivable targets, thereby reducing the accuracy of target detection and control reliability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted system that includes a radar device and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to emit radar waves, detect reflection points, and determine if the vehicle is in a specific environment by analyzing connection sequences and noise floor conditions, allowing for accurate identification of unreliable target information and inhibiting control based on it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If radar waves are emitted to detect reflection points for target detection, then target detection capability is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates in specific environments like tunnels or multistory parking lots due to numerous stationary reflection points from ceilings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection region into a forward detection region (ahead of the vehicle) and a lateral detection region (sideways of the vehicle). By processing reflection points differently based on their spatial location, the system can distinguish between relevant targets in the forward region and irrelevant ceiling reflections in the lateral region, thereby maintaining detection capability while improving accuracy in specific environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing mechanism that identifies and filters out stationary reflection points detected in the lateral detection region. These stationary points are recognized as ceiling reflections and are excluded from target detection, acting as a mediator that removes false information without affecting the detection of actual targets in the forward direction
2Area of stationary object
If all detected reflection points are used for target information generation, then detection coverage is improved, but reliability of control actions deteriorates due to inclusion of unreliable data from ceiling reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing quality to different spatial regions. Reflection points in the forward detection region are processed for target information generation, while reflection points in the lateral detection region are processed differently to identify them as ceiling reflections and exclude them from control decisions. This local differentiation maintains comprehensive detection coverage while ensuring control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unreliable reflection point data from the lateral detection region before it can affect control actions. By identifying stationary reflection points as ceiling reflections and extracting them from the target detection process, the system maintains broad detection coverage while preventing unreliable data from compromising control reliability
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 system effectively determines whether the vehicle is in a specific environment that reduces target detection accuracy, enabling the ECU to inhibit control actions based on unreliable data, thus enhancing safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a radar device configured to emit radar waves every preset measurement cycle to a detection region set to include a subjected-to-determination region defined by a horizontal angular range around a direction of travel of a vehicle, and based on received signals of reflected waves from reflection points that reflected the radar waves
Data Source
AI summary
In a target detection apparatus, an extraction unit extracts reflection points that are located within a subjected-to-determination region and stationary as subjected-to-determination points. A connection-sequence generation unit generates a connection sequence by extracting the subjected-to-determination points that are sequentially connected to each other at intervals of less than or equal to an allowable connection distance from one of the subjected-to-determination points as a starting point. In response to a determination condition being met, a determination unit determines that the vehicle is traveling in a specific environment where accuracy of the target information is decreased. The determination condition includes a condition that a determination score set according to a number of the subjected-to-determination points belonging to the connection sequence generated by the connection-sequence generation unit exceeds a score threshold.