Vector Environment Map for Autonomous Vehicle Sensor Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driver assistance systems face challenges in reliably operating and merging sensor data from different sources to create accurate and scalable maps of a vehicle's surroundings, leading to difficulties in data fusion and decision-making, especially when dealing with spatial uncertainty and varying sensor resolutions.

Innovation Solution

A method that generates a vector environment map by transforming sensor data into a global coordinate system, allowing objects to be stored as vectors independent of vehicle movement, which prevents data loss during scaling and enables efficient storage and fusion of sensor data from multiple sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If grid-based maps are used to store detected objects, then the environmental map can be created with simple cell occupancy marking, but data loss occurs during scaling and the map cannot be efficiently fused from multiple sensor sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of creating environmental mapVSAvoiddata loss during scaling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the environmental map representation from a discrete grid-based system to a continuous vector-based system using global coordinate systems. This parameter change allows the map to be scaled without data loss while maintaining ease of creation through standard sensor data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a standardized vector-based copy of the environmental map that can be efficiently fused from multiple sensor sources. By representing objects as vectors with global coordinates rather than grid cell occupancies, the system enables accurate data fusion while preserving all spatial information during scaling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If different driver assistance systems use different sensors and independently represent vehicle surroundings, then each system can operate autonomously, but sensor data fusion becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent operation of driver assistance systemsVSAvoidcomplexity of sensor data fusion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal vector-based environmental map format that can be used by multiple driver assistance systems simultaneously. This standardized representation allows different systems to operate independently while easily fusing their sensor data through a common coordinate system and data structure, reducing fusion complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If grid-based environmental maps are used, then the map structure is simple and easy to implement, but the map cannot be efficiently scaled and memory overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidmemory overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of map representation from discrete grid cells to continuous vectors with global coordinates. This enables efficient scaling without increasing memory overhead, as vectors require only coordinate storage rather than grid cell occupancy tracking across the entire map area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3177498B1Method for generating a map of surroundings of an area of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, driver assistance system and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 VALEO SCHALTER & SENSOREN GMBH
  • EP3177498B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3177498B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3177498B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for generating at map of surroundings (14) of an area (7) of the surroundings of a motor vehicle (1), wherein: an object in the surrounding area (7) is detected using a sensor device (9) of the motor vehicle (1); a position value (P) describing a position of the object is determined on the basis of sensor data from the sensor device (9) and using a control device (3) of the motor vehicle (1), and the determined position value (P) is transferred to the maps of surroundings (14), wherein a vector (v') between the object and a predetermined reference point (11) of the motor vehicle (1) is determined, said reference point forming an origin (0') of a vehicle coordinate system (12); the determined vector (v') is converted from the vehicle coordinate system (12) into a global coordinate system (13) of the map of surroundings (14); and the position value (P) is determined in the map of surroundings (14) on the basis of the converted vector (v).