Vehicle Sensor Calibration via Reference Data Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Calibrating vehicle sensors is complex and prone to errors due to variations in sensor installation, vehicle-specific parameters, and changing ambient conditions, leading to inconsistent sensor measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method that assigns sensor measurements to reference values from a calibrated reference vehicle within a 30-minute time frame, ensuring similar conditions, and adapts calibration values based on deviations, using a data processing unit that communicates wirelessly with vehicles to provide accurate calibration values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicle-specific and/or vehicle-individual calibration of sensors is performed, then sensor measurement accuracy is improved, but development effort and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reference measured values from a reference sensor as a template or copy to compare against measured values from sensors to be calibrated. By copying the calibration approach from a reference vehicle to target vehicles, the system achieves accurate calibration without performing complex individual calibration for each vehicle, thus reducing development effort while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data processing unit as an intermediary that automatically compares measured values with reference values and determines calibration status. This intermediary automates the calibration determination process, reducing the complexity and manual effort required for vehicle-specific calibration while maintaining high measurement accuracy
2Productivity
If sensor measured values are compared with reference values over long time periods, then calibration coverage is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to changing ambient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the time window for comparing measured values with reference values based on ambient condition stability. When ambient conditions are stable, longer time periods are allowed for comparison, increasing calibration coverage. When conditions change rapidly, the time window is shortened to maintain measurement accuracy, thus adaptively balancing coverage and precision
3Measurement precision
If calibration values are adapted based on deviations from reference values, then sensor performance is improved, but calibration reliability may deteriorate if time deviations exceed acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the time deviation between measured values and reference values. When the time deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system stops adapting calibration values, preventing unreliable calibration. This feedback mechanism ensures that calibration is only performed when time synchronization is within acceptable limits, maintaining both sensor performance and calibration reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating a sensor of a vehicle is provided. In this method, a sensor measured value that includes a measuring position and a measurement time is received by a data processing unit. Based on the measuring position and the measurement time, the sensor measured value is assigned to at least one reference measured value, which has been ascertained with a reference sensor of a reference vehicle at a reference position and at a reference measurement time, if the measurement time of the sensor measured value and the reference measurement time deviate from one another by a maximum of 30 minutes. In addition, at least one reference calibration value of the reference sensor is communicated to the vehicle and/or provided to the vehicle, so that an instantaneous calibration value of the sensor may be adapted based on the reference calibration value.