Roadway Mapping Device Using Bird's-Eye View Grid Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for creating precise digital maps of roadways for autonomous systems are complex, costly, and require extensive personnel and resource expenditure, as they involve conventional surveying methods that are tedious and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A roadway mapping device equipped with a camera unit and control unit that detects image data, transforms it into a bird's-eye view, and combines multiple grid maps from different journeys to create a precise digital map, using artificial neural networks for accurate determination and alignment of roadway regions, independent of existing markings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surveying methods are used to create digital maps, then measurement precision can be achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical surveying equipment with a camera-based optical system. Standard cameras capture images that are then processed through image processing algorithms to extract roadway information, eliminating the need for specialized mechanical measuring devices while maintaining mapping accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of the roadway environment through camera imaging. Instead of physically measuring the road, the camera captures visual copies that are then transformed into bird's-eye view representations and processed to generate digital maps, significantly simplifying the measurement process.
2Measurement precision
If multiple grid maps from different journeys are combined, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of individual grid maps during or immediately after each journey. By pre-processing and storing roadway region information from multiple journeys separately, the system prepares data in advance, reducing the computational burden during final map integration and decreasing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the mapping process into separate segments for each journey, processing grid maps independently before combining them. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple journeys' data and enables efficient merging of results without requiring simultaneous processing of all data, reducing computational complexity.
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
Enables the creation of accurate, reliable, and continually updated digital maps with reduced inaccuracies and costs, allowing for efficient navigation and recognition of drivable areas and non-roadway regions, such as construction sites or parking areas, by averaging determinations from multiple journeys.
Implementation Method 1
a camera unit (20) for detecting image data
Implementation Method 2
transform the detected image data, including the determined roadway regions, into a bird's-eye view by means of inverse perspective imaging and to project same onto a plane
Data Source
AI summary
A roadway mapping device for a vehicle includes a camera unit for detecting image data and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine roadway regions in the image data detected by the camera unit. The control unit is further configured to transform the image data, including the determined roadway regions, into a bird's-eye view by utilizing inverse perspective imaging and to project same onto a plane. The control unit is further configured to add the determined roadway regions to a grid map in the plane. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to align at least two grid maps from two different journeys with respect to each other and to combine them to create a final grid map of the roadway regions.