Vehicle Sensor Self-Verification Using Reference Target Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor verification processes for vehicles are highly manual and costly, requiring skilled technicians and controlled calibration environments, which are expensive to set up and maintain, especially for testing the scanning range of long-range sensors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize sensor data from vehicles operating in real environments to identify and repeatedly scan targets, comparing sensor data to calibrate, align, and verify the performance of sensors, reducing the need for manual intervention and costly calibration setups by using existing environmental scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional manual sensor verification processes are used, then measurement precision can be maintained, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system performs self-verification by automatically comparing its own sensor data against stored reference sensor data from previous scans of the same target, eliminating the need for external calibration equipment and manual technician intervention
Solution Approach 2:
Reference sensor data from previous scans is pre-stored in the system, allowing the sensor to be verified against known good data without requiring physical calibration targets or controlled environments during the verification process
2Measurement precision
If controlled calibration environments are set up for sensor testing, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system uses its own previously-collected sensor data as a reference for verification, eliminating the need to transport vehicles to controlled calibration environments and perform manual calibration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The same sensor system used for normal operation is also used for verification purposes, allowing verification to be performed in the field during regular operation rather than requiring separate calibration sessions in controlled environments
3Measurement precision
If manual sensor verification processes are used, then measurement precision can be ensured, but productivity decreases due to skilled technician requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically performs verification by comparing current sensor data against stored reference data, eliminating the need for skilled technicians to manually operate calibration equipment and interpret results
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates performance metrics by automatically comparing current sensor scans with reference scans and provides feedback on sensor performance, enabling continuous verification without manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
An example method involves detecting a sensor-testing trigger. Detecting the sensor-testing trigger may comprise determining that a vehicle is within a threshold distance to a target in an environment of the vehicle. The method also involves obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor of the vehicle after the detection of the sensor-testing trigger. The sensor data is indicative of a scan of a region of the environment that includes the target. The method also involves comparing the sensor data with previously-collected sensor data indicating detection of the target by one or more sensors during one or more previous scans of the environment. The method also involves generating performance metrics related to the sensor of the vehicle based on the comparison.