Ultrasonic Object Detection with Local Wind-Speed Vehicle State Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensor systems face challenges in handling an increased number of sensors due to insufficient communication bandwidth and reliance on electronic control unit specifications, making autonomous operation and stable control difficult.
Innovation Solution
An object detection device that includes an acquisition circuit, a calculation circuit, and an estimation circuit, which acquires and processes the wind speed, and an estimation circuit, which are configured to detect and process the wind speed, and an estimation circuit, which are configured to acquire and process the wind speed, and an estimation circuit, which are configured to acquire and process the wind speed, and an estimation circuit, which are configured to estimate the vehicle state, and a transmission and reception controller, which are configured to control the transmission and reception of ultrasonic waves based on vehicle state, thereby enabling autonomous operation and reducing communication load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of ultrasonic sensors connected to the ECU is increased, then the detection coverage and reliability are improved, but the communication bandwidth between sensors and ECU becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor system into autonomous sensor units that can independently calculate wind speed and estimate vehicle state, segmenting the processing functions from the central ECU. This allows each sensor to operate independently with reduced communication needs.
Solution Approach 2:
Each ultrasonic sensor is equipped with local calculation circuits that autonomously compute wind speed from elapsed time data and estimate vehicle state, enabling self-service operation without requiring continuous ECU intervention or high-bandwidth communication.
2Quantity of substance
If the ECU specifications are changed to support more sensors, then the sensor capacity is improved, but the system adaptability and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal sensor unit design where each ultrasonic sensor contains integrated calculation and estimation functions. This multi-functional design allows the same sensor unit to be deployed in various configurations without requiring ECU specification changes, improving system adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different vehicle states (forward travel, backward travel, stationary) by having each sensor autonomously estimate vehicle state based on wind speed calculations, allowing the system to flexibly handle various operating conditions without rigid ECU control.
3Measurement precision
If transmission and reception control is centralized in the ECU, then the control precision is improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of autonomous operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control functions by placing calculation circuits and estimation circuits directly in each ultrasonic sensor unit. This distributes the precision control functions from the central ECU to individual sensors, maintaining measurement precision while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces local calculation circuits as intermediaries between the ultrasonic sensors and the ECU. These intermediaries perform local processing of elapsed time data to calculate wind speed and estimate vehicle state, reducing the computational burden on the ECU while maintaining control precision.
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
The device enables accurate vehicle state estimation and obstacle detection with reduced communication capacity, allowing for an increase in the number of sensors by calculating wind speed and adjusting transmission and reception patterns autonomously.
Implementation Method 1
an acquisition circuit configured to acquire elapsed times from when an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from a transmission microphone to when reception microphones each receive the ultrasonic wave
Implementation Method 2
a calculation circuit configured to calculate a wind speed on the basis of the elapsed times acquired by the acquisition circuit
Data Source
AI summary
An object detection device includes an acquisition circuit, a calculation circuit, and an estimation circuit. The acquisition circuit acquires elapsed times from when an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from a transmission microphone to when reception microphones each receive the ultrasonic wave. The calculation circuit calculates a wind speed on the basis of the elapsed times acquired by the acquisition circuit. The estimation circuit estimates a vehicle state on the basis of the wind speed calculated by the calculation circuit.