Vehicle Environment Module Sensor Fusion Architecture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems face limitations in efficiently providing multiple driver assistance functions due to the complexity and error susceptibility of distributing control functions across various sensors and control units, leading to increased costs and material requirements.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle environment module that collects and fuses sensor data from multiple surroundings sensors to create a unified vehicle environment model, which is then used to generate control signals for actuating systems, eliminating the need for individual control units for each sensor and simplifying networking within the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If driver assistance functions are distributed to different control devices with individual control units for each sensor, then each function can be independently controlled, but the device complexity and error susceptibility increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver assistance functionsVSAvoidcontrol units and networking
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual control units into a single control unit that processes sensor data from all environment sensors. This consolidation reduces the number of control units and networking complexity while maintaining the capability to provide multiple driver assistance functions, directly resolving the technical contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple driver assistance functions simultaneously. Instead of having dedicated control units for each function, a single multi-functional control unit processes sensor data and generates control signals for various actuating systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while preserving versatility.

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

2Reliability

If individual control units are used for each sensor to form separate vehicle environment models, then each sensor can be independently processed, but costs and material requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor data processingVSAvoidcontrol units and materials
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual control units into a single control unit that handles processing for all sensors. This reduces the quantity of control units and associated materials while maintaining reliable sensor data processing through centralized architecture, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and quantity of materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If multiple separate vehicle environment models are generated by different control units, then each model can be optimized for specific functions, but the networking becomes more error-prone and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle environment model accuracyVSAvoidnetworking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the generation of multiple separate vehicle environment models into a single unified model created by one control unit. This eliminates the networking complexity and error susceptibility associated with multiple control units communicating, while maintaining measurement precision through comprehensive sensor data fusion within the unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2594446B1Apparatus and method for operating a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2594446B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2594446B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2594446B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The device (201) has a vehicle environmental module (103) for providing a vehicle environmental model with multiple sensor interfaces (105) for environmental sensors for the sensory detection of a vehicle environment. A sensor data fusion unit (107) is provided for executing sensor data fusion of the environmental sensor data. A calculating unit (109) is formed for calculating the vehicle environmental model depending on the fusioned environmental sensor data. The vehicle environmental model comprises a vehicle movement interface for a vehicle movement module. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a method for operating a vehicle; (2) a system for operating a vehicle; and (3) a computer program with a program code.