Radar Signal Processing Using Computer Vision Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive RADAR sensors face challenges in enclosed environments due to high artifact generation and environmental clutter, limiting their effectiveness in filtering responses from highly reflective structures like walls and floors, which complicates navigation and object detection in autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The integration of computer vision to guide RADAR sensor processing using polyphase filters, which dynamically adjust based on region of interest information from image processing, enables adaptive filtering to eliminate undesired responses and enhance the sensitivity and specificity of RADAR data, allowing for more accurate object detection and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If RADAR sensors are used in enclosed environments, then object detection capability is provided, but high number of artifacts are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses computer vision data as an intermediary to guide RADAR processing. The image processor identifies regions of interest (ROIs) and transmits this information to the RADAR processing chain, which then adjusts its filtering parameters accordingly. This intermediary approach allows the system to leverage the strengths of both vision (good at identifying relevant areas) and RADAR (good at detecting objects in various conditions) while mitigating RADAR's weakness of generating artifacts in enclosed spaces.
2Productivity
If traditional RADAR processing is used, then processing speed is maintained, but artifact reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation of RADAR processing parameters based on real-time computer vision input. The system continuously adjusts the number and configuration of polyphase filters according to the current scene understanding from the image processor. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize artifact reduction for each specific situation without sacrificing processing speed, as the adjustments are made adaptively rather than through exhaustive analysis.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If computer vision guidance is integrated with RADAR processing, then artifact reduction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a unified sensor fusion framework where computer vision and RADAR processing work together through a common interface. The image processor's ROI information serves as a universal guidance signal that the RADAR processing chain can interpret and act upon. This multi-functional approach allows the same system architecture to handle both vision-based scene understanding and RADAR-based object detection, reducing overall system complexity compared to separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
For some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for using computer vision to guide processing of receive responses of RADAR sensors of a vehicle are described. A computer implemented method comprises receiving, with one or more receivers of RADAR sensors, environment receive RF responses, receiving region of interest (ROI) information including segments of a tentative set of ROIs with free space area boundaries from an image processor of an image processing chain for the computer vision, dynamically determining a number of polyphase filters based on a number of ROIs having dynamic scenes that are provided by the image processing chain, and adjusting parameters of the polyphase filters of a RADAR processing chain based on the ROI information.