Vehicle Surround Sensor Power Control for Infrastructure Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to reduce interference between infrastructure sensors and vehicle surround sensors in partially automated driving systems, as active sensors on vehicles can disrupt both vehicle and infrastructure sensors.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for controlling the transmit power of active vehicle surround sensors based on messages received from infrastructure, reducing power when interference is detected and increasing it when necessary for safe automated driving functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active vehicle surround sensors operate at full transmit power, then measurement precision and detection range are improved, but interference with infrastructure sensors and other vehicle sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmit power control by continuously adjusting the power level of active vehicle surround sensors based on real-time communication with infrastructure systems. The control unit receives infrastructure messages indicating sensor operation status and dynamically adapts the transmit power to minimize interference while maintaining adequate detection capabilities throughout different driving scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the vehicle's control unit receives messages from the infrastructure about sensor operations and environmental conditions, processes this information, and adjusts the transmit power accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to changing conditions and optimize the balance between detection performance and interference reduction.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If transmit power of vehicle surround sensors is reduced to minimize interference, then sensor disruption is decreased, but detection range and measurement accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transmit power based on real-time infrastructure messages rather than using a fixed reduced power level. This enables the vehicle to maintain full or near-full power when infrastructure sensors are not operating or when detection requirements are high, while reducing power only when and where interference would occur, thereby preserving detection precision when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different transmit power levels in different spatial and temporal contexts based on infrastructure messages. Instead of uniformly reducing power across all operating conditions, the system selectively adjusts power for specific sensors at specific times and locations, maintaining high detection precision in areas and times where interference is not an issue while minimizing disruption where infrastructure sensors are active.
3Reliability
If infrastructure sensors and vehicle sensors operate simultaneously at full power, then both systems maintain optimal performance, but mutual interference increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication-based intermediary mechanism where the control unit acts as a mediator between the vehicle sensor system and infrastructure sensors. By receiving messages from the infrastructure about sensor operations and using this information to adjust vehicle sensor transmit power, the control unit coordinates the operation of both systems, enabling them to maintain reliability while minimizing mutual disruption through informed power adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary adjustments to transmit power based on advance information received from infrastructure messages. By proactively reducing power before potential interference occurs or adjusting power levels in advance based on predicted sensor operations, the system prevents mutual disruption while maintaining reliability, rather than reacting to interference after it occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for controlling a transmit power of at least one active vehicle surround sensor of a vehicle driven in an at least partially automated manner, at least one automated driving function of the vehicle being implemented on the basis of surroundings data acquired by the active vehicle surround sensor and/or on the basis of data received from an infrastructure. The method includes: receiving at least one first message from an infrastructure; generating, depending on information in the received first message, control signals for reducing the transmit power of an active vehicle surround sensor, and outputting the control signals; verifying, on the basis of surroundings conditions, whether the transmit power of the active vehicle surround sensor can be increased again; generating, depending on the verification, control signals for increasing the transmit power of the active vehicle surround sensor, and outputting the control signals.