Virtual Surrounding Space Signals for Vehicle Control Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current simulation systems for vehicle control apparatuses are inadequate for providing reliable and safe driving assistance or automated driving, as they only represent travel environments and do not sufficiently supply data for control in real-world scenarios, leading to increased development costs and limited testing areas.
Innovation Solution
A surrounding space data providing system that generates and supplies simulated or real-time space data to a vehicle's control apparatus, incorporating a space generation processor and signal generation processor to create a corresponding environment for the vehicle's post-control position and posture, allowing the control apparatus to operate as if actual sensors were present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If simulation systems only represent travel environments, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and measurement precision of driving assistance data are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the real-world surrounding space by generating a surrounding space image that mimics what autonomous sensors would detect. This virtual copy includes virtual objects and moving objects positioned in correspondence with their real-world counterparts, allowing the control apparatus to receive simulation data that accurately replicates real sensor inputs without requiring physical sensors in the simulation environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image generation unit as an intermediary that translates real-world spatial information into a format suitable for simulation. This unit generates surrounding space images that serve as intermediate data between the physical environment and the control apparatus, enabling reliable simulation without direct sensor connection to the virtual environment
2Reliability
If extensive real-world testing is conducted, then reliability and safety of automated driving are improved, but development time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary testing of automated driving control apparatus in a virtual environment before actual deployment. By generating surrounding space images that accurately represent real-world conditions, the system allows developers to conduct comprehensive safety tests and validate control algorithms in advance, reducing the need for extensive physical road testing and accelerating the development timeline
3Adaptability or versatility
If restricted testing areas are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to real-world scenarios is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from physical spatial testing to virtual spatial representation by generating two-dimensional or three-dimensional surrounding space images that can encompass any real-world scenario. This dimensional transformation allows the simulation system to represent diverse real-world environments (different locations, weather conditions, traffic scenarios) without requiring physical access to those locations, greatly enhancing adaptability while keeping the testing infrastructure simple
Data Source
AI summary
A surrounding space data providing system for a control apparatus for a vehicle includes a space generation processor and a signal generation processor. The space generation processor generates a surrounding space around the vehicle with the vehicle assuming a post-control position and a post-control posture, on the basis of a motion of the vehicle based on control data to be outputted by the control apparatus. The signal generation processor generates a generated signal of a space in which an object present in the surrounding space is arranged in the surrounding space in corresponding relation to the post-control position and the post-control posture of the vehicle. The generated signal is as suppliable to the control apparatus as a detection signal to be obtained by detection by an autonomous sensor provided in the vehicle. The signal generation processor outputs the generated signal to the control apparatus in place of the detection signal.