Autonomous Vehicle Road-Surface Mapping for Precise Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accuracy of positional information estimation for autonomous travel vehicles is poor due to the limitations of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning, leading to less precise autonomous navigation.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous travel system that includes a road surface image acquisition device, a storage unit, an estimation unit, a ground satellite signal reception antenna, a ground wireless communication device, a vehicle wireless communication device, and a vehicle satellite signal reception antenna, which work together to create a map image with associated coordinates and positional information using feature extraction and comparison, and wireless transmission of measurement information to improve positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If IMU and GPS are used for positioning in autonomous travel vehicles, then the system can obtain positioning information, but the accuracy of coordinate and positional information estimation becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground station as an intermediary component between satellites and the autonomous vehicle. The ground station receives satellite signals, processes them to generate high-precision positioning data, and transmits this corrected information to the vehicle. This intermediary processing step eliminates the accumulation of positioning errors that would otherwise occur when relying solely on onboard IMU and GPS, thereby resolving the contradiction between obtaining positioning information and maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the ground station continuously monitors satellite signal quality and positioning accuracy, then sends corrective information back to the autonomous vehicle. This closed-loop feedback allows the vehicle to compensate for positioning drift in real-time, maintaining high navigation precision despite the inherent limitations of standalone IMU and GPS systems.
2Productivity
If images are captured at set distance intervals while the vehicle travels, then mapping can be performed, but the accuracy of associated coordinates and positional information decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground station serves as an intermediary that provides high-precision reference positioning data to correct the coordinates associated with captured images. By comparing the vehicle's self-reported position (from IMU/GPS) with the ground station's verified position, the system can accurately associate image coordinates with true positional information, resolving the accuracy loss that would otherwise occur during efficient interval-based mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on the vehicle's onboard mechanical positioning systems (IMU and GPS receivers) with an external optical measurement system. The ground station uses optical instruments to directly measure the vehicle's position and transmits this corrected positional data, substituting the less accurate mechanical/electronic positioning with a more precise optical measurement approach for coordinate association.
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
This configuration enhances the accuracy of coordinate and positional information estimation, leading to more precise autonomous navigation by minimizing errors and achieving high-accuracy mapping both outdoors and indoors.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle satellite signal reception antenna mounted on the autonomous travel vehicle, and configured to receive the radio wave from the satellite
Data Source
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AI summary
An autonomous travel system (10) includes a road surface image acquisition device (30), a storage unit (60), an estimation unit (51), a ground satellite signal reception antenna (100), a ground wireless communication device (102) installed on a ground where the autonomous travel vehicle (20) travels, and a vehicle wireless communication device (91). The autonomous travel system (10) includes a vehicle satellite signal reception antenna (87, 88), and a mapping unit (70) configured to create the map image (61) of the road surface (Sr) with which the coordinates and the positional information are associated, from the image of the road surface (Sr) acquired by the road surface image acquisition device (30) based on the measurement information acquired through the ground satellite signal reception antenna (100) and the measurement information acquired through the vehicle satellite signal reception antenna (87, 88), in mapping outdoors.