Stabilization Grid for Moving Infrastructure Sensor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environmental sensor systems mounted on infrastructure components that can move, such as traffic poles and arms, face challenges in providing accurate data due to movement-induced inconsistencies, affecting the positioning of objects and infrastructure, especially in windy conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system employs environmental sensors to learn a fixed environment by tracking stationary objects over time, identifying movement of infrastructure components relative to learned reference points, and correcting object positions to compensate for this movement, using sensors like motion, optical, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic sensors to communicate accurate data through vehicle-to-X communication systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If environmental sensors are mounted on infrastructure components that can move (such as traffic poles and arms), then the system can provide flexible deployment and coverage, but the movement of infrastructure components causes positioning inaccuracies and data inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary stabilization grid that is fixed to the ground and remains stationary while the infrastructure component moves. Sensors mounted on the infrastructure component take measurements relative to this stable grid, allowing the system to maintain positioning accuracy even as the infrastructure component moves. The grid acts as a mediator between the moving sensor platform and the stationary environment being measured.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies counterweight by introducing a counteracting transformation that offsets the movement of the infrastructure component. When the infrastructure component moves, the system calculates a transformation matrix that represents this movement and applies the inverse transformation to the sensor measurements, effectively canceling out the movement effect and restoring positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If separate acceleration sensors are added to compensate for infrastructure movement, then positioning accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using separate acceleration sensors to detect and compensate for movement with a computational approach. Instead of adding physical sensors to measure infrastructure movement, the system uses existing sensor measurements taken at different orientations to mathematically derive and correct for the movement through transformation matrices, eliminating the need for additional mechanical sensing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing environmental sensors multi-functional by using them both for their primary purpose (detecting environmental features) and for detecting infrastructure component movement. The same sensors that detect lanes, crosswalks, and other environmental features are also used to detect the movement of the infrastructure component itself, eliminating the need for separate dedicated movement sensors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If environmental sensors are mounted on moving infrastructure components, then deployment flexibility improves, but data consistency and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization grid serves as a reliable intermediary reference frame that remains consistent despite infrastructure component movement. By taking measurements relative to this stable grid and applying counteracting transformations, the system ensures that the data output is consistent and reliable, as if the sensors were stationary, even though the physical platform is moving.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus includes at least one environmental sensor mounted to an infrastructure component that is capable of moving relative to ground. The at least one environmental sensor determines an object position. A system uses environmental data collected over time to learn a fixed environment that includes at least one learned reference point. The system determines an amount of movement of the infrastructure component in relation to the learned reference point. The system corrects object position to compensate for movement of the infrastructure component.