Vehicle Camera System for Autonomous Map Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicles lack the capability to autonomously navigate and park in spaces without pre-existing digital map data, especially in complex environments like parking garages.

Innovation Solution

A procedure that utilizes cameras to record and process image data from the vehicle environment, transforming recognized overview maps into navigable digital cards, which guide the vehicle through the spatial area without relying on digital communication interfaces or pre-loaded map data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If digital map data of parking garages is provided via download through IT interfaces, then navigation capability is improved, but device complexity and data management requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation capabilityVSAvoiddata management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables the vehicle to autonomously capture, process, and generate its own digital map data from visual representations in the parking garage environment, eliminating the need for external data management infrastructure and pre-loaded maps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/data-intensive system of pre-loaded digital maps and IT interfaces with an optical system that captures visual representations using cameras and processes them into navigable data structures in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If visual representations are captured and processed in real-time, then adaptability to environments without pre-existing data is improved, but use of energy and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential navigational features from visual representations, converting them into simplified data structures that contain only the necessary information for path planning and obstacle avoidance, reducing computational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing of visual data by capturing images, identifying spatial features, and generating navigable representations in advance of actual navigation needs, allowing for more efficient real-time decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3996976B1Method and assistance system for using a digital map in a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3996976B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3996976B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

In the method according to the invention for using a digital map in a vehicle, image data from the vehicle surroundings are captured (1) using one or more cameras (7) of the vehicle (5). The captured image data are processed (2) so as to identify a visually displayed overview map (9) that contains an abstract representation of spatial circumstances in the vicinity of the overview map. The image data of an identified overview map (9) are transformed (3) into a navigable digital map. The digital map is used to generate (4) guidance information for a travel route in the spatial region displayed in the overview map.