Vehicle Electromagnetic Sensing for Occluded Metallic Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles struggle to detect occluded objects due to limitations in existing sensors like cameras, LiDAR, and radar, which are susceptible to occlusion and environmental factors such as rain or fog, leading to potential obstacles being overlooked in trajectory planning.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing vehicle body parts as inductive or capacitive sensors to transmit and receive low-frequency electromagnetic signals, allowing detection of occluded metallic objects by analyzing disturbances in the electromagnetic field, combined with machine learning to predict the location and orientation of anomalies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If low-frequency electromagnetic signals are used to detect occluded objects, then detection capability for occluded metallic objects is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration of electromagnetic sensors with existing sensor systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electromagnetic sensors (transmitters and receivers) with existing direct-object-detecting sensors (cameras, LiDAR, radar) into an integrated sensor system. The electromagnetic signals transmitted by the transmitter interact with metallic objects and the received secondary signals are processed alongside data from other sensors to detect occluded objects, merging multiple sensing modalities into a unified detection system that improves measurement precision while managing complexity through integration.
2Ease of manufacture
If vehicle body parts are used as antennas for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, then ease of manufacture is improved by utilizing existing vehicle structure, but measurement precision may be affected by the vehicle body's interference with electromagnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the vehicle body parts (such as the hood, trunk, or doors) as intermediary antennas that both transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. These vehicle body parts serve as the medium through which electromagnetic signals are emitted into the environment and reflected secondary signals are captured. The vehicle body acts as an integrated antenna system that leverages existing conductive structures, simplifying installation while the signal processing system compensates for potential interference through threshold-based anomaly detection and multi-sensor fusion.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic sensors are integrated with existing direct-object-detecting sensors, then reliability of occluded object detection is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensor systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional sensor system where the same vehicle body parts serve multiple purposes: they are both structural components of the vehicle and functional antennas for electromagnetic signal transmission and reception. Additionally, the sensor system processes multiple types of data (electromagnetic secondary signals, camera images, LiDAR point clouds, radar returns) through a unified perception system that reasons about occluded objects by combining information from all sensor modalities, achieving enhanced reliability through universal application of the detection methodology across different sensing technologies.
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
Enhances the ability of autonomous vehicles to detect and account for occluded objects, improving safety and navigation by integrating electromagnetic sensors with existing direct-object-detecting sensors, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter on a vehicle configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in the frequency range 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz resulting in an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a receiver on the vehicle configured to receive a secondary electromagnetic signal from a metallic or conductive object surrounding the vehicle, wherein the secondary electromagnetic signal represents the disturbance the electromagnetic field created by the electromagnetic signal from the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology is directed to a sensor system. The sensor system may include a transmitter on a vehicle configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in the frequency range 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz resulting in an electromagnetic field. The sensor system may also include a receiver on the vehicle configured to receive a secondary electromagnetic signal from a metallic or conductive object surrounding the vehicle, wherein the secondary electromagnetic signal represents the disturbance the electromagnetic field created by the electromagnetic signal from the vehicle. The present technology is also directed to a processor configured to determine that the magnitude of the disturbance caused by the secondary electromagnetic field is above a threshold. When the magnitude of the disturbance is above a threshold, it can be reasoned that there is an anomaly causing the disturbance that is likely a large metallic object. In some environments, it can be inferred that the disturbance is likely a second vehicle near the first vehicle.