Vehicle Sensor Calibration for Autonomous Parking Transitions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in accurately calibrating sensors during transitions from manual or semiautonomous modes to autonomous operation, especially in environments like stopping areas, where data collection is limited, affecting their ability to provide accurate location and navigation data.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that involve a vehicle computer collecting and calibrating sensor data, such as radar data, while the vehicle is in manual or semiautonomous mode, and storing these settings for use in autonomous mode, ensuring accurate sensor calibration and data collection upon transitioning to autonomous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vehicle operates in manual or semiautonomous mode without sensor calibration, then the vehicle can operate without restrictions, but the sensor data accuracy deteriorates when transitioning to autonomous mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle operation flexibilityVSAvoidsensor data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs sensor calibration during manual or semiautonomous operation phases before transitioning to autonomous mode. The computer collects calibration data and adjusts sensor parameters in advance, ensuring that when autonomous mode is activated, the sensors are already calibrated and ready to provide accurate location and environmental data without interruption to vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the vehicle collects sensor data continuously in all modes, then the sensor calibration accuracy improves, but the energy consumption and data processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor calibration accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts sensor data collection based on operational mode. During manual or semiautonomous operation, the computer selectively collects calibration data at appropriate times rather than continuously. When autonomous mode is activated, the system ensures calibration data is available or collects it quickly during the transition phase, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining calibration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the vehicle transitions directly to autonomous mode without calibration, then the transition speed improves, but the operational reliability deteriorates due to uncalibrated sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode transition speedVSAvoidautonomous operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration process is integrated into the normal operational flow, allowing calibration to occur during manual or semiautonomous phases. This ensures continuous readiness for autonomous operation without requiring separate calibration stops or interruptions, maintaining the continuity of vehicle utility while ensuring sensor accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables vehicles to transition seamlessly to autonomous mode with calibrated sensors, providing accurate location and navigation data, enhancing operational efficiency and safety in various environments.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor can be a radar sensor and the instructions can further include instructions to actuate the radar sensor to collect radar data of the stopping area and to calibrate the radar sensor with the collected radar data.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentUS11827244B2Enhanced vehicle operation

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a current location of the vehicle in a map of a stopping area, collect data to calibrate a sensor while the vehicle is moving in the stopping area, calibrate the sensor based on the collected data, and actuate one or more vehicle components to move the vehicle to a stopping location in the stopping area based on the location of the vehicle in the map and data collected by the calibrated sensor.