Vehicle Object Detection Using Confidence-Based Cycle Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object detection systems for vehicles face issues with incorrect object identification due to variations in ultrasonic wave reflections from object shapes and environments, leading to transient detection errors that can result in unnecessary or missed vehicle control interventions.
Innovation Solution
An object detection apparatus using multiple ranging sensors that employs a first detector for direct wave reflections, a second detector for indirect wave reflections, and a confidence-level determination process to assess whether detected objects in consecutive cycles are the same, suspending differential determinations if the previous cycle's object has a high confidence level and is likely to be the same, thus avoiding incorrect same-object determinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If object detection is performed using ranging sensors based on ultrasonic wave reflections, then object detection capability is provided, but transient detection errors occur due to variations in reflections from object shapes and environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary same-object determination before final object identification. By calculating object positions in advance and comparing them across detection cycles, the system prepares confidence level data that prevents transient detection errors from causing incorrect control interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by comparing object positions detected in consecutive cycles and calculating confidence levels. This feedback mechanism allows the system to recognize when position variations are due to transient errors rather than actual object changes, thereby maintaining detection accuracy despite reflection variations.
2Reliability
If strict same-object determination is performed based on object position comparison, then incorrect determinations are avoided, but unnecessary control interventions occur due to transient detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary same-object determination using confidence level calculations before executing control interventions. This preliminary assessment prevents transient detection errors from triggering unnecessary control actions while maintaining rapid response when objects are genuinely different.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the strictness of same-object determination based on confidence levels. When confidence is high, stricter determination is applied; when confidence is low (indicating possible transient errors), more lenient determination is used, optimizing both reliability and response efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If multiple ranging sensors are used for triangulation-based object position calculation, then object position accuracy is improved, but detection errors still occur due to reflection variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary object position calculations using triangulation from multiple sensors, then compares these positions across detection cycles. This preliminary calculation and comparison approach leverages the precision of triangulation while identifying transient errors through temporal consistency checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously comparing object positions calculated from multiple sensors across consecutive detection cycles. This feedback mechanism identifies when position variations exceed expected triangulation precision, indicating transient errors rather than measurement limitations.
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 configuration reduces transient detection errors, preventing unnecessary vehicle control interventions and ensuring accurate object identification by suspending differential determinations based on high confidence levels, thereby maintaining effective vehicle-object interaction avoidance control.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a probe wave and receiving reflections of the probe wave from the object via the plurality of ranging sensor
Implementation Method 2
a first detector configured to detect the object based on a direct wave that is a first reflection of the probe wave from the object
Implementation Method 3
a second detector configured to detect the object based on an indirect wave that is a second reflection of the probe wave from the object
Data Source
AI summary
An object detection apparatus for detecting an object around a moving object carrying the apparatus by transmitting a probe wave and receiving reflections of the probe wave from the object via a plurality of ranging sensors attached to the moving object. In the apparatus, a tentative same-object determiner is configured to, if it is determined by a same-object determiner that the objects detected in the current and previous cycles are not the same, determine whether or not the objects detected in the current and previous cycles are likely to be the same. A determination suspender is configured to, if it is determined that the objects detected in the current and previous cycles are likely to be the same, suspend determining that the objects detected in the current and previous cycles are not the same.