Sensor Scan Filtering System Angular Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle sensors often detect non-obstructing objects as potential obstacles, leading to unnecessary avoidance behaviors or driver alerts, which can disrupt the vehicle's trajectory and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for filtering out sensor data using calibrated threshold tables to differentiate between true and false obstacles by analyzing the angular size and distance of detected objects, allowing only relevant data to influence the vehicle's navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors detect all objects in the field of view, then measurement completeness is improved, but false positive detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of angular size threshold for detected objects. By calibrating threshold tables with reference objects at known distances and establishing minimum angular size thresholds, the system filters out small objects (like grass stems) that cause false positives while maintaining detection of true obstacles. This parameter-based filtering resolves the contradiction by adjusting detection criteria rather than expanding sensor coverage.
2Reliability
If the vehicle responds to all detected objects, then safety is improved, but unnecessary avoidance behavior increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of object size threshold to distinguish between true obstacles and false positives. By calculating minimum angular size thresholds based on reference object calibration and distance information, the system selectively responds only to objects that meet the size criteria, preventing unnecessary avoidance maneuvers while maintaining safety for genuine obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through calibration procedures where reference objects at known distances are used to establish threshold tables. This calibrated feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously adjust its detection criteria based on pre-established size-distance relationships, enabling intelligent discrimination between true obstacles and false positives to maintain both safety and operational stability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and system are devised for filtering out sensor data by a Sensor scan filtering system. It comprises: creating acquisition tables of angular size data of a cluster of points for a Reference object placed at N respective distances from a sensor in a range [Dmin;Dmax]; creating calibrated threshold tables, by associating to adjacent distance intervals M in the range [Dmin;Dmax], respective thresholds calculated as a function of the angular size data for the Reference object when placed at distances falling within the respective distance intervals M; selecting one of the created calibrated threshold tables by the Sensor scan filtering system, and processing of sensor data as a function of the angular size data of a cluster of points for a Field object located at a distance D from the sensor, relative to the threshold in the selected calibrated threshold table for the distance interval M within which D falls.