Sensor Synchronization System for Autonomous Vehicle Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine vision cameras in autonomous vehicles capture sensor data asynchronously, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in constructing real-time 3D sensor images, especially at high speeds, due to discrepancies in timing that result in optical distortions when combining data from multiple sensors.
Innovation Solution
A sensor synchronization system that uses a local clock signal, synchronized with a GPS PPS signal, to generate sensor pulses for activating sensors in a predetermined schedule, ensuring time-synchronized data capture across multiple sensors, and formats the data with timestamps for precise timing, enabling accurate combination of sensor data into 3D images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If sensors capture data asynchronously, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to timing discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor synchronization system that acts as an intermediary between multiple sensors and the autonomous vehicle platform. This system uses a central clock signal to coordinate data capture across all sensors, ensuring precise timing synchronization without requiring complex modifications to each individual sensor's internal architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the synchronization controller monitors timing signals from the clock and adjusts sensor activation accordingly. Timestamps are generated and fed back to the platform to confirm precise timing correlation between multiple sensors, enabling continuous optimization of synchronization accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are activated in a predetermined schedule, then measurement precision is improved through time-synchronized data capture, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by activating sensors at regular intervals determined by a central clock signal. Each sensor is triggered at predetermined time points in a cyclic schedule, ensuring that all sensors capture data at synchronized moments. This periodic activation pattern maintains high measurement precision while using simple, repeatable control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization controller serves multiple functions: it generates clock signals, triggers sensor activation, generates timestamps, and coordinates data capture schedules. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single universal controller, the system achieves precise synchronized operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If sensor data is captured at high speeds, then productivity is improved through real-time 3D image generation, but measurement precision deteriorates due to optical distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-synchronizing all sensors before data capture begins. The clock signal is distributed to all sensors in advance, and the activation schedule is predetermined, ensuring that when high-speed capture occurs, all sensors are already synchronized and ready to capture data at the exact same moment, preventing timing-related distortions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical synchronization methods with electronic timing signals. Instead of using mechanical shutters or physical coordination mechanisms, the system uses electronic clock signals and digital timestamps to synchronize sensors, enabling high-speed operation without the mechanical inertia and distortion issues that would limit accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor interface for an autonomous vehicle. The sensor interface generates a plurality of sensor pulses that are each offset in phase relative to a local clock signal by a respective amount. The sensor interface receives sensor data from a sensor apparatus and formats the sensor data based at least in part on the plurality of sensor pulses to enable the sensor data to be used for navigating the autonomous vehicle. For example, the sensor interface may add a timestamp to the sensor data indicating a timing of the sensor data in relation to the local clock signal.