Steerable Lighting for Vehicle Perception in Low Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face difficulties in perceiving their environment during low lighting conditions due to the low resolution of active sensors like Lidar, making it challenging to identify objects effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a processor to receive image data, determine uncertain areas, control a steerable lighting device to illuminate these areas, and adjust the position of sensors such as cameras and Lidar or radar to improve object detection and vehicle control based on prioritized sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active sensors like Lidar are used for object detection, then object identification capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (camera, Lidar, radar) to create a fused perception system. The camera provides high-resolution visual data while Lidar and radar provide depth and motion information, compensating for individual sensor limitations and achieving both reliable object identification and precise measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The perception system acts as an intermediary between raw sensor data and vehicle control decisions. It processes and fuses data from multiple sources, using machine learning models to interpret uncertain areas and generate reliable object detections that drive navigation decisions
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are positioned to cover wide area, then environmental coverage is improved, but object detection precision deteriorates in specific areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor positions and lighting device orientation based on detected uncertain areas. When an object is detected with low confidence, the system repositions sensors and illuminates the specific area to improve detection precision, transitioning from static wide-area coverage to dynamic focused observation
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting device provides localized illumination to specific uncertain areas rather than uniform lighting across the entire environment. This concentrates optical energy where needed to improve sensor performance in critical regions while maintaining overall environmental awareness
3Reliability
If lighting device illuminates uncertain areas, then object detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device illuminates only partial areas (uncertain regions) rather than the entire environment. This selective illumination provides sufficient detection capability in critical areas while minimizing overall energy consumption by avoiding redundant lighting in already-well-lit or low-priority regions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses initial image data analysis to identify uncertain areas before activating the lighting device. This preliminary assessment allows the system to target illumination only where needed, avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure while ensuring detection capability is available when required
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the vehicle's ability to detect objects in low-light environments by illuminating uncertain areas and repositioning sensors for improved observation, thereby improving navigation and safety.
Implementation Method 1
controlling a position of a lighting device to illuminate a location in the environment of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for detecting objects within an environment of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, image data sensed from the environment of the vehicle; determining, by a processor, an area within the image data that object identification is uncertain; controlling, by the processor, a position of a lighting device to illuminate a location in the environment of the vehicle, wherein the location is associated with the area; controlling, by the processor, a position of one or more sensors to obtain sensor data from the location of the environment of the vehicle while the lighting device is illuminating the location; identifying, by the processor, one or more objects from the sensor data; and controlling, by the processor, the vehicle based on the one or more objects.