Vehicle Positioning Using Regular Road Features and Map Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a vehicle's precise position, especially in automated vehicles, face inaccuracies due to similar or regularly repeating environmental features, which can hinder safe operation.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes environmental data representing regular structures, such as road markings and infrastructure components, to determine a highly precise position by comparing these data with a digital map, and provides a signal for operation, ensuring low uncertainty and safe vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If environmental features are used for position determination, then position determination can be performed, but similar or regularly repeating environmental features lead to inaccurate position determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environmental features into multiple individual features (e.g., multiple road markings, multiple infrastructure components) and processes them separately before combining their information. Instead of treating similar features as a single entity, the system identifies and processes each feature's position and characteristics independently, then integrates them to achieve accurate position determination even when features are similar or repeating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple environmental features and their corresponding map data to determine vehicle position. By merging information from multiple features (such as combining data from several road markings, traffic signs, and infrastructure components), the system achieves more reliable and accurate position determination than would be possible with a single feature, especially when features are similar or regularly repeating.
2Measurement precision
If a single environmental feature is used for position determination, then the process is simple, but the position accuracy is insufficient for safe automated vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the position determination process into multiple sequential steps: acquiring environmental data, comparing with map data, determining vehicle position based on the comparison, and providing operational signals. This segmentation allows the system to process multiple environmental features systematically, achieving high accuracy without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal position determination method that can process various types of environmental features (road markings, traffic signs, infrastructure components) through a common framework. The system uses the same basic approach of comparing environmental data with map data regardless of the specific feature type, making the process scalable and manageable despite handling multiple features.
3Measurement precision
If environmental features with regular structures are used, then position determination can be performed, but similar features can lead to confusion and inaccurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by examining the specific characteristics and spatial relationships of each environmental feature in its local context. Instead of treating all similar features uniformly, the system analyzes the unique position, orientation, and configuration of each feature relative to others, allowing accurate distinction between similar features with regular structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial dimensionality to the feature analysis by considering the three-dimensional positions and spatial relationships between multiple environmental features. By analyzing features in multiple spatial dimensions rather than just two-dimensional images, the system can distinguish between similar features and accurately determine vehicle position even when features have regular, repeating structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (300) and a device (110) for determining (330) a highly precise position of a vehicle (100), comprising the steps: acquiring (310) environmental data values which represent an environment (200) of the vehicle (100), the environment (200) comprising multiple environmental features (210, 220) which have at least one regular structure, and the environmental data values comprising at least the at least one regular structure; performing (320) a comparison of the environmental data values with a map; determining the highly precise position of the vehicle (100) depending on the comparison; and providing (340) a signal proceeding from the highly precise position.