Autonomous Driving VIL Verification with Virtual Road Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) systems for autonomous driving function verification are limited in simulating diverse road environments, requiring frequent changes to real test roads, which is inconvenient and costly, and struggle to verify autonomous driving performance in complex scenarios without physically altering the test road environment.

Innovation Solution

A VIL system-based autonomous driving performance verification method that creates a virtual road environment using a simulator, converting the real position and posture of an autonomous vehicle into a virtual one, allowing verification without the need for a corresponding real test road, using a road environment database, simulation engine, rendering module, emulation module, calculation module, and interlocking module to generate and synchronize virtual sensor data and position information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a real test road is used for verification, then the autonomous vehicle can verify function in a real environment, but the system cannot verify in various virtual road environments without changing the physical road

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual road environment adaptabilityVSAvoidverification convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of road environments through detailed 3D modeling and mapping technologies. Virtual road environments are constructed by copying real-world road geometry, topology, and semantic information from point cloud data and map databases, allowing verification in diverse virtual scenarios without physical road changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a calculation module as an intermediary that transforms real vehicle position and posture data into virtual coordinate systems. This mediator enables seamless integration between real vehicle operations and virtual environment verification, allowing the vehicle to verify functions in virtual roads while physically remaining on the same test road

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the test road is changed to verify different road environments, then various road scenarios can be verified, but huge temporal and financial burdens are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad environment varietyVSAvoidroad change time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of physically changing roads, the system creates multiple virtual copies of different road environments by processing point cloud data and map information. These virtual road environments can be rapidly switched and configured without any physical infrastructure changes, enabling verification across diverse road scenarios including highways, urban streets, and rural roads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-processes road environment data by collecting point cloud information, constructing 3D models, and building virtual road environments in advance. This preliminary action allows rapid switching between different virtual road scenarios during verification without time-consuming physical road changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the test road is changed to verify different road environments, then various road scenarios can be verified, but huge financial costs are incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad environment varietyVSAvoidfinancial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses virtual copying of road environments through digital modeling instead of physical road construction or modification. Virtual road environments are generated from existing point cloud data and map information, eliminating the need for expensive physical infrastructure changes while enabling verification in diverse road scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical approach of physically changing test roads with an information-based virtual environment generation system. By substituting physical road modification with digital model creation and coordinate transformation, the patent eliminates huge financial costs associated with test road construction and modification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If virtual sensor data is generated through emulation, then verification can proceed without real sensor input, but the accuracy of position and posture conversion must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification speedVSAvoidposition and posture accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the calculated virtual position and posture are continuously compared with expected values from multiple data sources including point cloud matching, map coordinate systems, and vehicle sensor data. This feedback loop ensures accuracy maintenance while enabling rapid virtual environment verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The emulation module creates accurate virtual copies of sensor data by processing real sensor inputs through mathematical models that replicate sensor behavior. This copying approach generates realistic virtual sensor data that maintains the statistical and spatial characteristics of real sensor measurements, enabling accurate verification without real-time sensor dependency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4336367A1VIL system based autonomous driving function verification method
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 KOREA ELECTRONICS TECH INST
  • EP4336367A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4336367A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4336367A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a VIL system-based autonomous driving function verification method. According to embodiments of the disclosure, a VIL system enables an autonomous vehicle to verify an autonomous driving function by interlocking with a virtual road environment in any other place, without having to go to a real test road corresponding to a simulated virtual road environment. Accordingly, an autonomous driving function can be rapidly verified based on a VIL system with respect to various virtual road environments without changing a driving place, so that speed and convenience in development of autonomous driving technology can be enhanced.