Vehicle Localization Using Speed Bump Pitch Responses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication-enabled devices, such as vehicles, face challenges in determining their location in areas with reduced or non-existent connectivity, particularly in parking structures where GPS signals are lost, hindering autonomous parking and navigation.
Innovation Solution
The use of unique patterns of speed bumps, which produce distinct vehicle pitch responses measurable by onboard motion sensors, allows vehicles to determine their location through a map associating these responses with specific locations, enabling localization and navigation even without GPS signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signal is used for vehicle localization, then location determination accuracy is improved, but the system becomes unable to operate in areas with reduced or non-existent connectivity such as parking structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces speed bumps as intermediary physical markers that create measurable disturbances (pitch responses) in the vehicle. These speed bumps serve as mediators between the vehicle's motion sensors and the localization system, enabling the vehicle to determine its position through detected pitch responses even when GPS signals are unavailable. The speed bumps translate physical location information into detectable sensor signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic GPS-based localization system with a mechanical sensing approach using onboard motion sensors to detect pitch responses from speed bumps. This substitution allows the vehicle to use mechanical vibrations and movements caused by traversing speed bumps as a alternative to electromagnetic signal-based positioning, enabling operation in GPS-denied environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dead reckoning is used for position estimation, then the system can operate without GPS signals, but location accuracy deteriorates over time and distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the vehicle's motion sensors continuously detect pitch responses from speed bumps, providing corrective feedback to the dead reckoning system. When a speed bump is detected, the system receives feedback about the vehicle's actual position, allowing it to correct accumulated errors in its position estimate. This feedback loop maintains accuracy over longer distances and times compared to pure dead reckoning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pre-mapped speed bump locations and expected pitch response patterns as preliminary reference data. Before the vehicle enters a parking structure, the system has access to a map of speed bump positions and their characteristic pitch responses. This preliminary information allows the vehicle to proactively identify its location by matching detected responses against the pre-stored patterns, rather than relying solely on continuous integration of motion data.
3Measurement precision
If unique patterns of speed bumps are deployed throughout the parking structure, then location determination capability is improved, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating unique pitch response patterns at specific locations within the parking structure. Instead of using a uniform speed bump design throughout, the system varies the spacing, size, or arrangement of speed bumps at different locations to create distinctive local signatures. This allows the vehicle to identify specific locations based on the unique pattern it encounters, improving location determination while keeping the overall infrastructure relatively simple.
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 method enables vehicles to accurately determine their location and navigate within areas with poor connectivity by correlating measured pitch responses with pre-defined patterns, enhancing autonomous parking and navigation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
obtain motion sensor information from a vehicle sensor, the motion sensor information comprising a measured vehicle pitch response as the vehicle traverses the speed bumps
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for vehicle localization are provided herein. An example method can include obtaining a map within an operating area. A location within the operating area is associated with a pattern of speed bumps that is configured to produce a vehicle pitch response from the vehicle when the vehicle travels over the pattern of speed bumps. The method can include obtaining motion sensor information from a vehicle sensor, determining when the motion sensor information matches the vehicle pitch response, and determining that the vehicle is in the location when the motion sensor information corresponds to the vehicle pitch response of the location.