Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Trigger Timing for Synchronized Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous driving systems lack efficient mechanisms to control the operations of various sensors, which are critical for precise perception of the driving environment and effective motion planning and control, as different sensors have different requirements and specifications.
Innovation Solution
A sensor unit with sensor control modules, including delay time control logic, delay adjustment logic, trigger signal generator, and width and polarity adjustment logic, is introduced to synchronize and control the operation of sensors by receiving pulse time adjustment, trigger time adjustment, frames per second, width adjustment, and polarity adjustment values from the host system, ensuring collaborative and precise sensor data capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with different requirements and specifications are used to perceive the driving environment, then the precision and comprehensiveness of environmental perception is improved, but the complexity of sensor control and synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor control module is designed as a universal control unit that can manage multiple different types of sensors (LIDAR, radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors) through a unified interface and control mechanism. This multi-functional module handles diverse sensor requirements including different trigger protocols, data formats, and synchronization needs, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise environmental perception capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor control module acts as an intermediary between the autonomous driving controller and multiple sensors. It receives control signals from the controller, processes them according to each sensor's specific requirements, and generates appropriate trigger signals for each sensor. This intermediary layer simplifies the control architecture by centralizing sensor management functions while accommodating individual sensor specifications
2Reliability
If sensors operate synchronously and cooperatively to precisely perceive the driving environment, then the accuracy of motion planning and control is improved, but the difficulty of coordinating sensor operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple sensors into a single sensor control module. This unified controller coordinates all sensor operations including LIDAR, radar, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors through a centralized control logic, enabling synchronous operation while simplifying the coordination mechanism. The merged control approach ensures all sensors work cooperatively for accurate motion planning without requiring complex individual coordination systems
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor control module performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring sensor trigger parameters, synchronization timing, and data collection protocols before actual sensing operations begin. This advance setup ensures that when sensors need to operate synchronously for motion planning, they are already coordinated and ready, reducing the real-time coordination burden and improving reliability
3Ease of operation
If a unified sensor control mechanism is implemented to manage multiple sensors, then the ease of operation and system management is improved, but the adaptability to different sensor requirements and specifications may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor control module employs dynamic configuration capabilities that allow it to adapt its control parameters and protocols based on the specific sensor being managed. The system can dynamically adjust trigger frequencies, data formats, and communication protocols to match each sensor's requirements while maintaining a unified control interface. This dynamic adaptability ensures ease of operation through standardized management while preserving versatility across different sensor specifications
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism utilizes parameter changes to accommodate different sensor requirements. By modifying control parameters such as trigger timing, signal protocols, and data sampling rates based on the specific sensor type, the unified control module can manage diverse sensors effectively. This parameter-based adaptability allows the system to maintain simple unified operation while being versatile enough to handle various sensor specifications
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor unit includes a sensor interface coupled to a number of sensors and a host interface coupled to a host system utilized to autonomously drive the vehicle. The sensor unit further includes sensor control modules corresponding to the sensors. Each sensor control module includes delay time control logic, delay adjustment logic, and a trigger signal generator. The delay time control logic is to receive a pulse time adjustment (PTA) value from the host system. The delay adjustment logic is to receive a trigger time adjustment (TTA) value from the host system. The delay adjustment logic is to modify timing of at least a portion of the pulses of a pulse signal based on the PTA value and the TTA value. The trigger signal generator is to generate a trigger signal based on the modified pulse signal and to transmit the trigger signal to a corresponding sensor.