Unoccupied Cell Map Generation for 3D Route Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current map generation and route determination technologies lack the ability to efficiently create detailed, three-dimensional maps of geographic areas using sensor data, particularly for navigating vehicles through complex environments while avoiding obstacles, leading to potential safety hazards and inefficient routes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method utilizing LiDAR returns to generate an unoccupied cell map, which represents unobstructed areas in a geographic region, allowing for the determination of safe and efficient routes by identifying unoccupied cells that can accommodate vehicles, including aircraft, and updating the map in real-time based on sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional map generation methods are used, then map creation is simpler, but the maps lack three-dimensional detail and obstacle avoidance capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional map representations to three-dimensional unoccupied cell maps by incorporating vertical dimension data from LiDAR sensors. This allows the system to represent obstacles and navigable spaces in 3D space, enabling aircraft to plan routes that avoid obstacles both horizontally and vertically, thus improving measurement precision and obstacle avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces LiDAR sensors as intermediary devices between the physical environment and the digital map representation. These sensors capture laser returns that are processed into unoccupied cell maps, serving as a mediator that translates real-world three-dimensional structures into computable map data with high precision
2Reliability
If detailed three-dimensional maps are generated using LiDAR, then obstacle avoidance improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the three-dimensional space into discrete unoccupied cells, where each cell represents a volumetric element that is either occupied or unoccupied. This segmentation transforms continuous LiDAR point cloud data into discrete, computationally manageable units that can be efficiently processed for route planning while maintaining high safety standards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the physical environment through unoccupied cell maps that replicate the three-dimensional structure of the terrain and obstacles. This digital twin approach allows complex real-world environments to be represented and processed in simplified digital form, improving safety through accurate obstacle representation while reducing processing complexity compared to working with raw sensor data
3Reliability
If real-time map updates are implemented, then route safety improves, but computational resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of LiDAR data to create unoccupied cell maps before route planning is needed. By pre-processing the sensor data into structured map representations, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time route planning, allowing for safe real-time updates without excessive energy consumption during critical navigation decisions
4Productivity
If unoccupied cell maps are used for routing, then route efficiency improves, but map generation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent generates unoccupied cell maps in advance before route determination is required. This preliminary map generation allows the system to have ready-to-use three-dimensional navigation data when routing decisions need to be made, improving route efficiency while separating the time-consuming map generation process from time-critical route planning operations
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 solution enhances safety and efficiency by providing accurate, three-dimensional route planning that avoids obstacles, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes environmental impact by determining the shortest and safest routes for vehicles navigating through complex terrains.
Implementation Method 1
generating, by a computing system comprising one or more processors, an unoccupied cell map for a geographic area based at least in part on a plurality of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) returns associated with detection of the geographic area by one or more LiDAR devices
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, devices, and tangible non-transitory computer readable media for generating a route through a geographic area are provided. The disclosed technology can generate an unoccupied cell map. The unoccupied cell map can include cells that are associated with unoccupied portions of a geographic area that are not associated with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) returns. Further, route request data that is associated with a request for a route from a starting location to one or more destination locations within the geographic area can be received. Based on the route request data, the unoccupied cell map can be accessed. A route, based on the unoccupied cell map, can then be generated. Furthermore, the route can include the unoccupied cells between a starting location and one or more destination locations within the geographic area. Indications associated with the route can then be generated.