Vehicle Obstacle Verification Using Multi-Sensor Detection Possibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle obstacle detection systems may include errors in information obtained from rear monitoring units, particularly in obstructed or low-visibility areas, leading to potential inaccuracies in detecting peripheral obstacles.
Innovation Solution
An obstacle-information-managing device that utilizes external sensors like millimeter wave radar and stereo cameras to detect obstacles, combined with GPS, map data, and communication protocols to verify obstacle presence through majority decision processes and accuracy calculations, reducing erroneous detections by considering sensor specifications and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If obstacle information is obtained from rear monitoring unit for front vehicle, then detection coverage in blocked regions is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to potential errors in obtained information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having the host vehicle's external sensor verify obstacle information obtained from the rear monitoring unit. The detection possibility determining unit uses feedback from multiple sources (own sensor detection results, other vehicles' detection results, and detection possibility determination) to improve measurement precision while maintaining expanded detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection possibility determining unit acts as an intermediary that mediates between the conflicting information sources. It determines whether the host vehicle's external sensor can actually detect the obstacle in principle, using this intermediary assessment to weigh and combine information from the rear monitoring unit with own sensor data, thereby resolving the precision-coverage contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor data and environmental factors are integrated for obstacle verification, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex verification process into distinct functional units: obstacle detecting unit, detection possibility determining unit, and obstacle presence determining unit. Each unit handles a specific aspect of the verification process, managing complexity through functional segmentation while achieving high measurement precision through their coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The external sensor serves multiple functions: it detects obstacles for the host vehicle, provides verification data for the detection possibility determining unit, and contributes to the overall obstacle presence determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby managing device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is an obstacle-information-managing device for determining, with high precision, the presence of an obstacle around a vehicle. The obstacle-information-managing device is provided with an obstacle-information-acquiring means, an obstacle-detection-possibility-information-acquiring means, and an obstacle-presence-determining means. The obstacle-information-acquiring means acquires obstacle information pertaining to an obstacle around each of a plurality of vehicles including a host vehicle, said obstacle being detected using environment sensors mounted on the vehicles. The obstacle-detection-possibility-information-acquiring means acquires obstacle detection possibility information pertaining to the possibility, when at least one obstacle included in the obstacle information is detected using the environment sensor(s) mounted on at least one of the vehicles and at least one obstacle is not detected using the environment sensor(s) mounted on the remaining vehicle(s), as to whether at least one of the obstacles could in principle be detected using the environment sensor (s) mounted on the remaining vehicle(s). The obstacle-presence-determining means determines the presence of at least one obstacle on the basis of the obstacle-detection-possibility information and the obstacle information.