Vehicle Sensor Filtering for Sunlight-Resilient Cruise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) face challenges in maintaining safe vehicle distance and control due to sensor data degradation caused by external light sources like sunlight, leading to inconvenient or unsafe transitions from adaptive cruise control to manual control.
Innovation Solution
A computing system that switches between adaptive and conventional cruise control modes based on sensor data quality, requiring driver confirmation before mode changes and utilizing external data sources when internal sensors are impaired.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If adaptive cruise control uses sensor data in bright sunlight conditions, then automation level is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sensor data degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism that assesses sensor data quality before processing. When sunlight causes degradation, the system uses this intermediate evaluation to detect the problem and switch to alternative control modes, preventing poor quality data from compromising measurement precision while maintaining automation through other sensors or manual override options
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on real-time sensor data quality assessment. When bright sunlight degrades sensor performance, the system transitions from adaptive cruise control to conventional cruise control or manual mode, allowing the automation level to adapt to environmental conditions while preserving measurement precision through mode switching
2Measurement precision
If the system switches from adaptive to conventional cruise control due to sensor impairment, then measurement precision is preserved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to mode transition requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of sensor data quality before critical failure occurs. By assessing sunlight interference and sensor degradation in advance, the system can smoothly transition control modes before the driver notices any issue, preserving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through proactive mode switching
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data quality and provides feedback on the operational status. When degradation is detected, the feedback mechanism triggers appropriate mode transitions, ensuring the driver receives necessary information about system status while maintaining seamless operation through automated responses to environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus related to sensor data processing for a vehicle to improve operation when sunlight or other bright light enters a sensor of the vehicle. In one approach, adjustable filtering is configured for a sensor of a vehicle. In one example, an optical filter is positioned on the path of light that reaches an image sensor of a camera. For example, the filtering improves ability to stay in adaptive cruise control when driving into direct sunlight at sunset. The optical filters can have controllable properties such as polarization. In one example, a controller of the vehicle is configured to automatically adjust the properties of the optical filter to improve image quality to improve object recognition. In another example, a camera is configured with composite vision that uses sensors in different radiation spectrums (e.g., visible light, and infrared light). The composite vision can provide enhanced vision capability for an autonomous vehicle that is driving in the direction of the sun.