Automated Vehicle Road Edge Substrate Color Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack a method to safely determine the color of a substrate adjacent to a non-elevated road surface for automated vehicles, particularly in situations without elevated barriers, which poses a risk of accidents when the vehicle deviates from the road.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves determining a trajectory parallel to the road lane trajectory with a predetermined distance to the road end, and then determining the color of the substrate at specific points along this trajectory using multiple perception sensors, such as LiDAR, cameras, and radar, to ensure safety and predict the road edge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple perception sensors are used to determine substrate color for safety, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate color detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple perception sensors (cameras, LiDAR, radar) into an integrated sensor system that simultaneously captures data about substrate color, distance, and position. This merging approach achieves high measurement precision for substrate identification while managing device complexity through unified sensor fusion architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting substrate color for hazard identification, measuring distance to road edge, and tracking substrate position along the trajectory. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors, balancing measurement precision with device complexity.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a trajectory parallel to the road lane is determined with predetermined distance, then the predictive capability improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictive road edge detectionVSAvoidtrajectory calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates a trajectory parallel to the detected road lane at a predetermined distance before the vehicle reaches the road edge. This preliminary action enables predictive detection of potential hazards (grass, snow, loose soil) ahead of time, allowing the vehicle to prepare appropriate responses. The trajectory calculation uses geometric relationships based on the detected lane, reducing measurement difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the color of substrate is determined for automated driving safety, then reliability improves, but the loss of time for processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated driving safetyVSAvoidcolor determination processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines substrate color along a pre-calculated trajectory in advance, before the vehicle reaches the potential hazard zone. This preliminary color determination allows processing to occur during normal driving phases rather than during critical decision moments, reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of analyzing every pixel in the entire field of view, the system focuses color determination efforts specifically along the predetermined parallel trajectory where hazards are most likely to occur. This partial action approach concentrates processing resources on critical areas, reducing overall processing time while maintaining safety reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 method provides a safe and predictive way to determine the color of substrates next to roads without elevated barriers, enhancing the safety integrity of automated driving by accurately identifying the road edge and potential hazards like grass, snow, or loose soil.

Implementation Method 1

determining a trajectory being parallel to a given trajectory of a lane of the road and having a predetermined distance to a given lateral end of the road

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

determining the color of the substrate for at least one point being located on or having a predetermined distance to the determined trajectory

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotography: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP4141815B1Method and device for determining a color of a substrate being laterally adjacent to a non-elevated surface of a road
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4141815B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4141815B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Provided is a method for determining a color of a substrate being laterally adjacent to a non-elevated surface of a road for an automated vehicle. The method comprises a step of determining a trajectory being parallel to a given trajectory of a lane of the road and having a predetermined distance to a given lateral end of the road. The method further comprises a step of determining the color of the substrate for at least one point being located on or having a predetermined distance to the determined trajectory.