Vehicle Localization via Amplitude Audio Signatures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle localization methods, such as image sensors and LiDAR, are limited in precision and confidence, especially in low-visibility environments, necessitating a more reliable approach for accurate navigation and autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
The method employs amplitude audio features by extracting and comparing audio signatures from vehicle-mounted sensors with a geo-referenced audio feature map to update vehicle location data, enhancing localization precision and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image sensors and LiDAR sensors are used for vehicle localization, then navigation capability is provided, but localization precision deteriorates in low-visibility environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical sensing systems (image sensors and LiDAR) with an acoustic sensing system that uses microphones to capture audio data. This substitution enables localization functionality to operate independently of visual conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining localization reliability and preserving measurement precision in low-visibility environments where optical sensors fail.
2Measurement precision
If audio sensors are added to the vehicle, then localization precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repurposes existing audio sensors (microphones) originally designed for other vehicle functions such as voice recognition or noise cancellation, and applies them to localization tasks. This multi-functional use of existing hardware improves localization precision without adding dedicated new sensors, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes audio data that is already being collected by the vehicle's existing sensor suite for purposes other than localization. By extracting localization information from this existing audio data through amplitude analysis and signature matching, the system improves precision without requiring additional hardware resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for vehicle localization via amplitude audio features. In this regard, an amplitude audio signature of audio data received from one or more audio sensors of a vehicle is determined. Location data associated with the vehicle is also determined. Based on the location data for the vehicle, at least a portion of an audio feature map is selected. The audio feature map stores amplitude audio signatures associated with road noise in relation to respective locations. Furthermore, the amplitude audio signature of the audio data is compared with the amplitude audio signatures of the audio feature map. Based on the comparison between the amplitude audio signature of the audio data and the amplitude audio signatures of the audio feature map, a location of the vehicle is refined to generate updated location data for the vehicle.