Unified Sensor System Representation for Dynamic Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems face challenges in maintaining accurate and synchronized calibrations across multiple components, leading to ambiguities and inefficiencies in data processing and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A unified system representation (Plex) that integrates component and constraint models to provide a complete, synchronized, and extensible framework for calibrating and interpreting observations from multiple sensors, using a single model for different sensor types and allowing dynamic calibration without shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate calibration models are used for different sensor types, then each sensor can be calibrated independently, but calibration synchronization and data consistency across sensors deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal calibration framework where a single calibration model serves multiple sensor types (LIDAR, cameras, radar). The model uses common parameter representations (extrinsic parameters, intrinsic parameters) that can be applied across different sensor modalities, enabling consistent calibration while maintaining adaptability to various sensor types through configurable sensor definitions.
2Productivity
If dynamic calibration is implemented during system operation, then system shutdown time is reduced, but calibration complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic calibration by allowing the calibration process to execute during system operation rather than requiring shutdown. The calibration system continuously receives sensor data, performs optimization calculations, and updates calibration parameters in real-time, transforming a static offline process into a dynamic online process that adapts to changing operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration setup by defining sensor configurations, parameter structures, and optimization algorithms in advance. Calibration data collections are prepared beforehand with appropriate timing and synchronization protocols, enabling the actual calibration execution to proceed efficiently during operation without ad-hoc complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a unified calibration framework is used for multiple sensor types, then calibration synchronization improves, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by standardizing the calibration parameter representations across different sensor types. All sensors use the same mathematical models (projection matrices, transformation matrices), the same parameter naming conventions, and the same optimization framework. This homogeneous structure simplifies implementation despite the diversity of sensor types, as the unified model treats all sensors consistently.
Data Source
AI summary
In variants, a system management platform can include a set of system representations and a set of platform-standard element models. Each system representation can include a set of component representations related by a set of constraint representations 140, which can represent the sensing components of a system and the relationships therebetween, respectively, and store component-specific and constraint-specific calibration parameter values, respectively. The component representations 120 can optionally reference the element models.