Traffic Guidance Sensor Validation With Reference Object Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing infrastructure-based traffic control systems lack the ability to demonstrate effectiveness in complex traffic situations, limiting their use in autonomous vehicles due to accuracy and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a mobile test object with multiple traffic monitoring sensors and a reference sensor to compare sensor data, ensuring accurate object detection and processing time, enabling real-time verification of the infrastructure-based traffic control system's functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If infrastructure-based traffic control systems use onboard systems only for information gathering, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of traffic situation detection deteriorate due to physical limitations such as restricted visibility and limited computing capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the detection function into two segments: infrastructure-based sensors (roadside) handle complex traffic situation monitoring with high measurement precision, while onboard systems in autonomous vehicles handle basic information reception and processing. This segmentation allows each component to operate within its optimal capability range, resolving the contradiction between system complexity and detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If infrastructure-based control technology is used for autonomous vehicles, then the reliability of traffic control is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple sensors and data comparison systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness verificationVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A data comparison module acts as an intermediary between the infrastructure-based sensors and the autonomous vehicle systems. This intermediary receives data from multiple infrastructure sensors, performs consistency checks and validation, and outputs verified information to autonomous vehicles. The intermediary handles the complexity of multi-sensor integration and validation, allowing the overall system to achieve high reliability without burdening individual vehicle systems with complex sensor arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If multiple traffic monitoring sensors are deployed to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time for data processing and verification increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data validation and consistency checks at the infrastructure level before transmitting information to autonomous vehicles. The data comparison module pre-processes sensor data from multiple sources, verifying consistency and filtering invalid information in advance. This preliminary action ensures that only verified, high-quality data is transmitted to vehicles, maintaining measurement precision while minimizing the time loss during actual autonomous driving operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Ensures reliable data generation for safety-critical applications, allowing autonomous vehicles to safely navigate complex traffic scenarios by providing accurate sensor data for driving strategy planning.

Implementation Method 1

The reference sensor preferably comprises a lidar sensor, which can acquire spatially and temporally high-resolution reference sensor data from a traffic scenario.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

light-based sensors, such as optical sensors (e.g., cameras, lidar systems, or infrared sensors)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight: Light

Implementation Method 3

The at least one traffic monitoring sensor, preferably two traffic monitoring sensors, can, for example, comprise one or more radar sensors.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentEP4252035B1Automated reliability testing of an infrastructure-supported guidance system
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4252035B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4252035B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4252035B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for testing the efficacy of an infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a) having at least one traffic monitoring sensor (S1, S2). In the method, a mobile test object (OBJ, OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, OBJ4) is introduced into a monitoring region (10b) of the infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a). Sensor data (SD) from the mobile test object (OBJ, OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, OBJ4) is captured by the at least one traffic monitoring sensor (S1, S2) of the infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a). At the same time, reference sensor data (RSD) from the test object (OBJ, OBJ1, OBJ2, OBJ3, OBJ4) is sensorially detected by means of at least one stationary reference sensor (RSK). By comparing the sensor data (SD) of the infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a) and the reference sensor data (RSD) of the reference sensor (RSK), an efficacy of the infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a) is finally determined or tested. The invention also relates to an infrastructure-supported traffic guidance device (10a). An autonomous transport system (10, 40) is also described.