Semantic Dynamic Occupancy Grids With Particle-Based Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated driving technologies lack an integrated processing of semantic information in dynamic occupancy grids, leading to inconsistent and unreliable maneuver planning.

Innovation Solution

A method to build a categorized environment model by incorporating semantic information into dynamic occupancy grids, using a set of categories and particle-based updates to ensure consistency and accuracy, enabling safer and more reliable automated driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If semantic information is integrated into dynamic occupancy grids for maneuver planning, then the reliability and safety of automated driving is improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of maneuver planningVSAvoidcomplexity of environmental model
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges semantic information processing directly into the dynamic occupancy grid framework by creating a unified environmental model that combines both semantic categories and occupancy probabilities. This integration eliminates the need for separate parallel processing systems, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through unification rather than multiplication of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The environmental model is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it performs traditional occupancy grid mapping, object tracking, and semantic classification all within a single unified framework. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve reliability across multiple planning aspects without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same infrastructure supports multiple capabilities.

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

2Measurement precision

If semantic information is integrated into dynamic occupancy grids, then the accuracy of maneuver planning is improved, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of environment modelVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments semantic information processing into discrete categorical labels that can be efficiently stored and processed within grid cells. By dividing the semantic space into distinct categories (e.g., pedestrian, vehicle, road marking) rather than continuous descriptors, the system achieves high accuracy in environment modeling while maintaining computational efficiency through standardized, discrete data structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies semantic information locally at the grid cell level, where each cell contains both occupancy probability and semantic category information. This local quality approach allows accurate representation of the environment at relevant scales without requiring global processing of all semantic data, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling computational complexity through localized operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If semantic information is integrated into dynamic occupancy grids, then the safety of automated driving is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of automated drivingVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs semantic classification and category assignment during the sensor data processing stage, before maneuver planning begins. By preliminarily organizing semantic information into categorical structures during environmental modeling, the system ensures safety-critical information is ready for immediate use in planning without requiring additional processing time during the actual maneuver decision-making process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms continuous sensor data into discrete semantic categories and probability values, changing the parameter representation from continuous measurements to discrete classified states. This parameter transformation enables efficient processing and comparison during planning, as discrete categories can be quickly evaluated against planning rules and constraints, thereby improving safety while reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4293633B1Assisted vehicle operation based on dynamic occupancy grid maps including semantic information
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 VECTOR INFORMATIK
  • EP4293633B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4c
  • EP4293633B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4293633B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented method of assisting in the operation of a vehicle is disclosed, the method comprises the steps of: with at least one sensor, sensing an environment of the vehicle thereby obtaining sensor data, and deriving spatial information of the environment and semantic information from the sensor data. Furthermore, generating a dynamic occupancy grid model, in which the sensed environment is represented as a grid consisting of a plurality of grid cells, the grid cells comprising occupying information and a dynamic state represented by a set of particles, and assigning the grid cells and the particles semantic information derived from the sensor data, wherein the semantic information is represented by a set of categories. The method further comprising the steps of predicting new particle positions on the grid; determining for the grid cells predicted semantic information based on combining the semantic information assigned to the grid cells with the semantic information assigned to the particles based on their predicted new particle positions; obtaining new sensor data, and updating the predicted semantic information assigned to the grid cells and the semantic information assigned to the particles from the new sensor data, and deriving an automated driving action based on the determined new semantic information and the dynamic state of the one or more grid cells. Also disclosed is a system for performing the computer-implemented method of assisting operation of a vehicle and the vehicle comprising said system.