Vehicle Surroundings Monitoring via Grid-Based Stationary Object Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle radar systems face challenges in accurately detecting stationary objects due to varying signal characteristics and overlapping detection areas, leading to false detections and missed detections.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a grid map with dynamically set threshold values and occupancy probability parameters, using radar sensors to map stationary objects and update the grid map based on vehicle behavior, and expands the mapping area to compensate for signal variations, thereby improving detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radar signals are transmitted with predefined frame periods to detect outside objects, then the system can operate continuously to monitor the environment, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to varying signal characteristics and overlapping detection areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidobject detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection area is divided into multiple grid cells, with each cell having its own occupancy probability parameter. This segmentation allows independent threshold setting for each grid cell based on local signal characteristics, resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring and detection accuracy by treating different spatial regions differently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system sets threshold values and occupancy probability parameters dynamically for each grid cell based on local conditions such as detection area overlap and signal characteristics. This local quality approach ensures that each region is evaluated with appropriate criteria, improving detection precision while maintaining continuous environmental monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the radar system uses fixed threshold values for object detection, then the system operation is simple, but false detections and missed detections increase due to varying signal characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts threshold values and occupancy probability parameters based on vehicle behavior (acceleration, deceleration, steering) and detection conditions. This dynamic adaptation maintains detection reliability across varying operating conditions while automating the complexity, so the system remains easy to operate without requiring manual threshold tuning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes detection parameters (threshold values, occupancy probability) based on signal characteristics and detection area properties. By automatically adjusting these parameters according to local conditions, the system maintains high detection reliability without requiring complex manual configuration, preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If the detection area is expanded to cover more regions, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but the complexity of processing overlapping detection areas increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverage areaVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expanded detection area is segmented into discrete grid cells, each processed independently with its own occupancy probability calculation. This segmentation reduces processing complexity by breaking down the large detection area into manageable units, while still maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage across all regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies detection processing to all grid cells within the detection area, including those with partial overlap. By processing each cell independently with appropriate threshold adjustments, the system handles the excessive coverage area without proportionally increasing complexity, as each cell is processed with standardized procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This approach enhances the accuracy of stationary object detection by adapting to different signal characteristics and vehicle movements, reducing false positives and negatives, and ensuring reliable monitoring of the vehicle's surroundings.

Implementation Method 1

A radar for a vehicle refers to a device that detects an outside object within a detection area when the vehicle travels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentEP4123336B1Apparatus and method for monitoring surrounding environment of vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD
  • EP4123336B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4123336B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4123336B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An apparatus for monitoring the surrounding environment of a vehicle may include: a sensor unit including a plurality of detection sensors configured to detect an object outside the vehicle according to frames with a predefined period; and a control unit configured to extract a stationary object among outside objects detected through the sensor unit by using behavior information of the vehicle, map the extracted stationary object to a preset grid map, add occupancy information to each of grids constituting the grid map depending on whether the stationary object is mapped to the grid map, calculate an occupancy probability parameter indicating the probability that the stationary object will be located at each of the grids, from the occupancy information added to the grids within the grid map in a plurality of frames, and monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle on the basis of the calculated occupancy probability parameter.