Vehicle Sensor Evaluation Using Infrastructure Feature Point Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensor systems rely solely on internal sensors for environment detection, leading to inaccurate self-position estimation and control performance due to potential sensor misalignment or deterioration, which may not be immediately recognizable without observable vehicle behavior changes.
Innovation Solution
A sensor evaluation system that includes an infrastructure device outside the vehicle to detect environmental feature points and an information processing device to calculate and compare position information with internal sensor data, allowing for continuous evaluation of sensor function without observing vehicle behavior, and requesting remote support if abnormalities are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor evaluation is performed only by observing vehicle behavior, then the evaluation system remains simple, but sensor function deterioration cannot be detected until it manifests in vehicle behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infrastructure device as an intermediary between the sensor and the evaluation system. This infrastructure device captures images of the environment and provides reference data, allowing the sensor to be evaluated through comparison with this external reference rather than solely through vehicle behavior observation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate sensor deterioration detection while maintaining relative system simplicity through the use of an external evaluation resource.
2Measurement precision
If internal sensors alone are used for environment detection, then the system structure remains simple, but self-position estimation accuracy deteriorates due to sensor misalignment or aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the internal sensor data with external infrastructure device data to create a combined evaluation system. The sensor mounted on the vehicle and the infrastructure device work together, with their respective detection results being compared and integrated. This combination improves self-position estimation accuracy by compensating for internal sensor limitations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through coordinated operation of existing components.
3Productivity
If sensor calibration is performed manually, then the system remains simple to implement, but evaluation cannot be performed continuously and requires vehicle behavior observation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous sensor evaluation by establishing a systematic comparison between internal sensor data and external infrastructure data that occurs continuously as the vehicle moves through the environment. This continuous evaluation process eliminates the need for periodic manual calibration and enables real-time detection of sensor deterioration, achieving high evaluation frequency through an automated systematic approach rather than ad-hoc manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor evaluation system includes an infrastructure device installed outside a vehicle, and an information processing device. The infrastructure device includes an infrastructure sensor that detects the environment around the infrastructure device, and an infrastructure information processing device that performs information processing. The infrastructure information processing device calculates first feature point position information indicating information on a position of a feature point in the environment around the infrastructure device, based on detection information of the infrastructure sensor. The information processing device calculates second feature point position information indicating information on a position of a feature point in the environment around the vehicle, based on the detection information of a sensor. The information processing device evaluates a function of the sensor based on a difference between the first feature point position information and the second feature point position information, which are associated with the same feature point.