Vehicle Object Mapping During Standby With Periodic Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles lack effective systems to monitor and locate external objects in their vicinity, especially when not in operation, limiting safety and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system utilizing a sensor system, positioning system, and navigational map data to detect and track external objects, providing user notifications and dynamic map updates when the vehicle is in standby mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle is in standby mode with sensor system deactivated, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ability to detect and monitor external objects is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidobject detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection actions by continuously monitoring the battery charge level and enabling the sensor system in advance when sufficient energy is available. This allows the vehicle to be ready for object detection before actually needing it, resolving the contradiction by preparing the system during periods of energy availability so that detection capability is restored when needed while maintaining energy efficiency during critical low-battery periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the sensor system operates continuously to detect objects, then object detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system operates periodically rather than continuously, being activated based on battery charge level thresholds and ambient light conditions. The system checks battery levels at predetermined intervals and enables sensing operations only when energy availability and environmental conditions are favorable, thus maintaining detection reliability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the vehicle provides comprehensive object location information, then user experience is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives raw sensor data, determines object types based on reflection characteristics, and translates this information into simplified graphical icons displayed on the user interface. This intermediary layer processes the complex sensor information and presents it in an easily understandable format, improving user experience without requiring the user to directly interact with or understand the underlying complex sensing and processing systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances safety and user experience by enabling real-time monitoring and notification of external objects, even when the vehicle is not in operation, using sensors like FIR to triangulate positions and overlay object indications on navigational maps.

Implementation Method 1

sensing devices such as radar, lidar, image sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

sensing devices such as radar, lidar, image sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLidar: LIDAR

Implementation Method 3

identifying a current geographic location of the vehicle using a positioning system onboard the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSatellite positioning:

Implementation Method 4

the sensor system includes a far infrared (FIR) sensing system configurable to identify the detected object when the vehicle is in a standby mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12420820B2Vehicle systems and methods for monitoring and determining locations of external objects

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for monitoring a vicinity of a vehicle. One method involves identifying, using an onboard sensor system, an object within a field of view of the sensor system, identifying a current geographic location of the vehicle using an onboard positioning system, determining an estimated geographic location of the detected object based at least in part on the current geographic location of the vehicle and the position of the detected object within the field of view of the sensor system, obtaining navigational map data for a region encompassing the current geographic location of the vehicle and the estimated geographic location of the detected object, and automatically providing a user notification. The user notification includes a navigational map of the region including a graphical indication of the detected object overlying the navigational map data at the estimated geographic location on the navigational map.