Autonomous Vehicle Obstacle Detection Sensitivity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomously traveling work vehicles often stop unnecessarily when obstacles are detected outside their designated work area, leading to interrupted operations and potential misinterpretation of environmental changes, which can result in reduced workability and unexpected situations.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle is equipped with a sensitivity adjustment mechanism for its obstacle detection system, which reduces detection sensitivity outside the set work area, adjusts based on environmental conditions, and provides preliminary notifications for route changes to prevent false alarms and ensure continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If obstacle detection sensitivity is increased to detect all obstacles, then detection precision is improved, but the vehicle stops unnecessarily when obstacles are detected outside the work area, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating detection sensitivity based on spatial location. The control device sets high detection sensitivity within the work area to ensure obstacle detection precision, while setting low detection sensitivity outside the work area to prevent false alarms. This spatially differentiated sensitivity configuration resolves the contradiction by making the detection system locally optimized rather than uniformly sensitive throughout the entire detection range.
2Area of stationary object
If obstacle detection range is extended to cover larger area, then detection coverage is improved, but false detection of obstacles outside work area increases, causing unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating spatially differentiated detection zones with distinct sensitivity characteristics. Within the work area, the system maintains high detection sensitivity for accurate obstacle detection. Outside the work area, the system reduces sensitivity to filter out false detections from auxiliary personnel or objects that are not relevant to the current work task. This resolves the contradiction between extensive detection coverage and reliable detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection space is segmented into two distinct regions: work area and non-work area. Each region has independently configured detection sensitivity parameters. The control device processes detection signals differently based on their spatial origin, accepting a broader detection range while maintaining reliability through region-specific filtering criteria.
3Reliability
If the vehicle stops immediately upon obstacle detection, then safety is improved, but work efficiency is reduced due to frequent unnecessary stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing location-dependent response strategies. When obstacles are detected within the work area, the vehicle executes immediate stop commands to ensure safety. When obstacles are detected outside the work area, the vehicle maintains its current operation without stopping, as these detections are classified as false alarms. This spatially differentiated response policy resolves the contradiction between safety and work efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
In the prior art, detection sensitivity was fixed for an obstacle detection means provided to an autonomous travelling service vehicle; therefore, in the present invention an autonomous travelling service vehicle is provided with a position calculation means that determines the position of the chassis using a satellite positioning system, and with a control device that automatically drives the vehicle along a set travel route and causes the vehicle to execute the service, wherein an obstacle sensor that acts as an obstacle detection means for detecting whether or not an obstacle is present around the autonomous travelling service vehicle and a sensitivity adjustment means for adjusting the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor are provided, and the sensitivity of the obstacle sensor is adjusted by the sensitivity adjustment means so as to be high within a set work area and low outside the set work area.