Vehicle Lane Centering via Environmental Sensor Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle steering systems face inaccuracies due to drift effects in MEMS-based inertial sensors and external forces not measured by steering angle sensors, leading to systemic errors in predicting vehicle position, especially in vehicles with mechanical play or dynamic steering configurations.

Innovation Solution

An automated steering system that combines environmental sensing with motion sensors, using an electronic controller to receive and process data from electromagnetic radiation sensors, motion sensors, and steering systems to determine and correct the vehicle's position, and calibrate the motion sensors based on differences between predicted and current positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If MEMS-based inertial sensors are used to predict vehicle motion, then the system can operate autonomously without external references, but drift effects cause the sensors to lose accuracy over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous vehicle motion predictionVSAvoidvehicle position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses environmental features (lane markings, road edges, curbs) detected by electromagnetic radiation sensors as feedback to continuously correct and update the predicted vehicle position, compensating for drift in MEMS inertial sensors over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines inertial measurement unit (IMU) data from MEMS sensors with environmental sensing data from electromagnetic radiation sensors to create a hybrid positioning system that leverages the autonomy of inertial navigation with the accuracy of environmental reference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If steering angle sensors are used to predict vehicle position, then the system can determine lateral motion, but external forces not measured by the sensor cause systemic error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral motion measurementVSAvoidvehicle position prediction reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system compares the predicted vehicle position from steering angle sensing with the actual position derived from environmental features, using the difference as feedback to correct systematic errors from unmeasured external forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical play or dynamic steering configuration changes are present, then the vehicle can adapt to different driving conditions, but the sensed steering angle becomes inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering system flexibilityVSAvoidsteering angle measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces reliance on mechanical steering angle sensing with an environmental reference-based positioning system that uses electromagnetic radiation sensors to detect lane markings and road features, substituting mechanical measurement with optical/environmental sensing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If environmental sensing is combined with motion sensors to correct predicted position, then measurement accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle position measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensing and control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electromagnetic radiation sensors serve multiple functions: detecting environmental features for position correction, identifying lane markings for navigation, and providing feedback for motion prediction, reducing the need for separate dedicated correction systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables robust control and accurate centering of vehicles in lanes by correcting for system errors and adapting to dynamic mechanical changes, improving the precision of vehicle motion prediction and control.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a motion sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10899349B2Centering a vehicle in a lane using environmental information to correct a predicted trajectory

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method and system for centering a vehicle in a lane. The system includes an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a motion sensor, a steering system, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to receive environmental information regarding an environment external to the vehicle from the electromagnetic radiation sensor and to receive a first motion of the vehicle from the motion sensor. The electronic controller is also configured to determine a predicted position of the vehicle based the first motion of the vehicle and the environmental information, store the predicted position, compare the predicted position to a desired position of the vehicle to generate and send a corrective signal to the steering system. The electronic controller is further configured to determine a current position of the vehicle, compare the current position with the predicted position to generate a difference, and calibrate the motion sensor based on the difference.