Vehicle Wind Estimation Using Sensor Fusion During Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current autonomous vehicle systems lack effective methods for accurately detecting and estimating wind speed and direction, which can impact vehicle navigation and safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wind detection and estimation system that utilizes a combination of direct and indirect methods, including physical wind sensors and vehicle motion models, to estimate wind speed and direction, and generates control outputs to adjust vehicle operations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wind sensor is installed to directly detect wind speed and direction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by employing a vehicle motion model as a mediator between the wind sensor output and the final wind estimation. The model translates raw sensor data into meaningful wind speed and direction estimates by accounting for vehicle dynamics, thereby improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through software-based processing rather than additional hardware sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind sensor system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same sensor setup serves both direct wind detection and indirect vehicle motion analysis. This universal approach allows the system to extract multiple parameters (wind speed, wind direction, vehicle disturbance forces) from a single sensor configuration, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Device complexity
If indirect wind estimation methods are used instead of direct wind sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges direct wind sensor measurement with indirect vehicle motion model estimation to create a comprehensive wind detection system. By combining both approaches, the system achieves improved measurement precision through data fusion while managing device complexity by utilizing existing vehicle sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) alongside the wind sensor, rather than relying solely on complex direct measurement equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the vehicle motion model continuously refines wind estimation based on actual vehicle response to wind forces. The model uses feedback from vehicle acceleration, yaw rate, and other motion parameters to adjust and improve wind speed and direction estimates in real-time, thereby maintaining high measurement precision without requiring overly complex direct sensing systems.
3Reliability
If comprehensive wind detection systems are implemented to improve navigation precision, then vehicle safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wind detection and estimation actions before critical navigation decisions are required. By continuously monitoring wind conditions and predicting wind shear effects in advance, the system can proactively adjust vehicle control parameters, improving vehicle safety and reliability without requiring complex real-time emergency response mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wind detection mechanisms with a combination of electronic sensors and computational modeling. Instead of using complex mechanical anemometers or flow visualization systems, the invention uses electronic wind sensors coupled with a vehicle motion model that computationally estimates wind parameters, thereby improving vehicle safety while reducing overall device complexity through electronics and software rather than mechanical systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, systems and methods related to direct and indirect methods for detecting wind speed and direction during driving. An example method may include estimating, by a processor of a vehicle controller, a speed and a direction of wind movement near the vehicle based on a first sensor output from a wind sensor, or a second sensor output from a non-wind sensor, or a combination of the first sensor output and the second sensor output, wherein a primary purpose of the wind sensor is wind detection, and a primary purpose of the non-wind sensor is different from wind detection, and generating a control output indicative of a vehicle disturbance force resulting from the wind based on the estimated speed and direction of the wind movement.