Vehicle Object Sensor Misalignment Detection via Path Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle-mounted object sensors can become misaligned due to collisions or other disruptions, leading to inaccurate sensor readings that affect safety and control modules, such as adaptive cruise control and automated lane change systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine if the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, track the path of a stationary object through the sensor's field-of-view, and compare the sensed path with an expected path to detect misalignment, using vehicle sensors and a control module to assess the alignment of object sensors without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view are used to detect misalignment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The object sensor performs self-diagnosis by autonomously tracking stationary objects and comparing sensed paths with expected paths to detect its own misalignment, eliminating the need for external diagnostic equipment or multiple redundant sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The object sensor serves dual functions: it detects external objects for vehicle safety operations and simultaneously performs self-diagnosis for misalignment detection, maximizing the utility of existing hardware without adding redundant components
2Measurement precision
If complex diagnostic procedures are implemented to detect sensor misalignment, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-diagnosis without requiring manual intervention, specialized diagnostic tools, or complex procedures from operators. The control module automatically executes the diagnostic algorithm by processing sensor data and comparing object paths
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors object paths and provides feedback to the control module, which automatically determines misalignment based on path deviations, enabling real-time detection without manual diagnostic steps
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system and method that can determine object sensor misalignment while a host vehicle is being driven, and can do so without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view. In an exemplary embodiment where the host vehicle is traveling in generally a straight line, the present method uses an object sensor to track the path of a stationary object as it moves through the sensor's field-of-view and compares the sensed object path to an expected object pat*h. If the sensed and expected paths of the stationary object deviate by more than some amount, then the method determines that the object sensor is skewed or otherwise misaligned.