Offline Sensor Synchronization Validation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for validating sensor data synchronization in autonomous vehicles lack accuracy and long-term stability, particularly when performed online in real-time, which can impact the precision and reliability of active and passive sensor data integration.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a synchronization device and validation application to analyze images captured by a passive sensor of a measure board, using synchronization settings to determine if active and passive sensors are synchronized, with offline validation providing higher accuracy and longer stability testing compared to online methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor data synchronization is validated online in real-time on an autonomous driving vehicle, then validation can be performed in actual operating conditions, but the validation accuracy and long-term stability testing are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements offline validation testing before deploying sensors to autonomous vehicles. A validation system pre-tests sensor synchronization using simulated target objects and controlled environments, establishing baseline synchronization accuracy and stability metrics before real-world deployment. This preliminary validation reduces the need for complex real-time validation systems while ensuring sensor reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor data synchronization is validated online in real-time, then the system can adapt to actual driving conditions, but substantial efforts are required to set up sensors and validate synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The validation system performs comprehensive sensor synchronization testing in advance using offline methods, pre-establishing synchronization parameters and performance baselines. This eliminates the need for time-consuming sensor setup and validation during real-time operations, as the sensors are pre-validated for their specific configurations and mounting positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses two-dimensional images captured by passive sensors as digital copies of three-dimensional target objects for validation purposes. This copying approach simplifies the validation process by working with image data rather than requiring physical access to and manipulation of actual target objects during validation, significantly reducing setup time while maintaining validation effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If offline validation equipment is used, then higher validation accuracy and long-term stability testing are provided, but the system cannot be deployed in real-time autonomous driving operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs high-precision offline validation testing before deployment, establishing synchronized timing baselines and performance metrics in advance. Once validated, the synchronization parameters are fixed and deployed to production systems, eliminating the need for repeated high-speed real-time validation while maintaining measurement precision through pre-established benchmarks.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation system performs comprehensive synchronization testing at periodic intervals during offline validation, including long-term stability tests over extended periods. This periodic validation approach ensures high measurement precision for synchronization accuracy while allowing the system to operate continuously between validation cycles, effectively separating precision measurement from operational speed requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes various embodiments of validating data synchronization between an active sensor and a passive sensor. According to an exemplary method of validating sensor synchronization between an active sensor and a passive sensor, a synchronization device receives a first signal from the active sensor, the first signal indicating that the active sensor has transmitted laser points to a measure board. In response to the first signal, the synchronization device transmits a second signal to the passive sensor to trigger the passive sensor to capture an image of the measure board. A synchronization validation application can perform an analysis of the image of the measure board in view of timing of the first signal and second signal to determine whether the passive sensor and the active sensor are synchronized with each other.