Simulation-Based Map Validation for Autonomous Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital maps used for navigation and autonomous vehicle control often contain errors that can render them unusable, particularly in representing real-world transportation networks accurately, leading to issues like collisions, route inaccuracies, and operational parameter deviations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a simulated transportation network based on real-world data, where simulated users (modeled as particles) traverse the network using control instructions and vehicle dynamics models, allowing for the identification of map errors through validation rules and visualization of errors for correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital maps are used for navigation and autonomous vehicle control, then route guidance and vehicle control are enabled, but map errors cause collisions, route inaccuracies, and operational failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing simulation-based validation of digital maps before they are used for navigation and autonomous vehicle control. The system simulates vehicle movements through the transportation network using map data, and validates the maps against predefined criteria to identify errors in advance. This prevents map errors from causing collisions and route inaccuracies during actual operations, thereby improving map reliability while eliminating the harmful effects of undetected map errors.
2Reliability
If simulation-based validation is performed to identify map errors, then map reliability is improved, but computational resources and time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective validation strategies where not all map data is validated with the same level of scrutiny. The system prioritizes validation of critical transportation network segments and areas with higher error probabilities, while using less intensive validation for lower-risk areas. This approach maintains high map validation accuracy for critical regions while reducing overall computational resource consumption and validation time compared to exhaustive validation of entire map datasets.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes defining a simulated transportation network based on a map that represents a real-world physical transportation network. The simulated transportation network includes segments, and each segment includes information that describes operating characteristics for the segment. The method also includes defining simulated users and performing a simulation in which the simulated users are moved relative to the simulated transportation network. The simulated users are moved using control instructions, and the simulated users are moved based on the information that describes operating characteristics for the segment that corresponds to a respective current location for each of the simulated users. The method also includes identifying map errors based on the simulation.