Vehicle Sensor Control for Water-Related Substance Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of water-related substances such as rain, fog, and water vapor in the sensing area of vehicle sensors affects sensing accuracy, leading to deterioration in vehicle control, especially in automated driving modes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that includes an optical sensor and a sensing camera to acquire reflected light and camera images, respectively, with an extraction unit to identify unmatched pixel groups and a control unit to instruct vehicle control based on estimated water-related substances, and a cleaning system to clean the sensor surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water-related substances are present in the sensing area, then sensing accuracy deteriorates, but using multiple sensors and image comparison increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing approaches (optical sensor with reflected light imaging and camera with outside light imaging) into a unified water-related substance detection system. By merging these sensors and comparing their images through the extraction unit, the system achieves accurate detection while sharing processing resources, thus improving sensing accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor and camera serve multiple functions: they detect water-related substances, capture images for comparison, and provide data for vehicle control decisions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated specialized sensors, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling device complexity
2Measurement precision
If image comparison is performed to extract unmatched pixel groups, then water-related substance detection accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction unit isolates and extracts only the unmatched pixel groups from the images, focusing processing on the specific regions where water-related substances are detected rather than analyzing entire images. This selective extraction improves detection accuracy while reducing the overall processing time by eliminating redundant computations
3Measurement precision
If cleaning is performed on sensor surfaces, then sensing accuracy is maintained, but automated driving continuity may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of water-related substances using image comparison before cleaning is initiated. By detecting substances in advance and planning cleaning operations proactively, the system can schedule cleaning during appropriate moments, maintaining sensing accuracy while minimizing interruptions to automated driving continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction unit continuously provides feedback on the presence and location of water-related substances. This feedback loop allows the control unit to monitor sensing conditions in real-time and initiate cleaning only when necessary, thereby maintaining sensing accuracy while avoiding unnecessary cleaning operations that would interrupt automated driving
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
Accurately estimates and cleans water-related substances on sensor surfaces, improving sensing accuracy and ensuring continuous automated driving by preventing erroneous obstacle recognition.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor configured to acquire a reflected light image by sensing reflected light of irradiated light
Implementation Method 2
a sensing camera configured to acquire a camera image according to intensity of outside light
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device is configured to control a vehicle equipped with (i) an optical sensor configured to acquire a reflected light image by sensing reflected light of irradiated light and (ii) a sensing camera configured to acquire a camera image according to intensity of outside light in a sensing area which overlaps with a sensing area of the optical sensor. The vehicle control device includes an extraction unit configured to extract an unmatched pixel group by comparing the reflected light image with the camera image, and a control unit configured to instruct the vehicle to control according to a water-related substance estimated to correspond to the unmatched pixel group.