VEHICLE RADAR CONTROL

• US 20160003939A1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: STAINVAS OLSHANSKY, INNA, BILIK, IGAL
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/02 Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/415 Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. One or more transmitters are configured to transmit radar signals. A plurality of receivers are configured to receive return radar signals after the transmitted radar signals are deflected from an object proximate the vehicle. A processor is coupled to the plurality of receivers, and is configured to generate a plurality of feature vectors based on the returned radar signals and generate a three dimensional representation of the object using the plurality of feature vectors.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a radar system of a vehicle, the radar system having a plurality of receivers, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving radar signals pertaining to an object via each of the plurality of receivers;

generating a plurality of feature vectors based on the radar signals; and

generating a three dimensional representation of the object using the plurality of feature vectors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the three dimensional representation comprises generating the three dimensional representation as a union of the plurality of feature vectors over a three dimensional array.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining an azimuth angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determining an elevation angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals; and

determining a range for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

wherein the generating the three dimensional representation comprises generating the three dimensional representation as the union of the plurality of feature vectors over the three dimensional array having first, second, and third dimensions based on the azimuth angle, the elevation angle, and the range.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

determining a location of the object, including a center of the object;

wherein the generating the three dimensional representation comprises generating the three dimensional representation as the union of the plurality of feature vectors over the three dimensional array having a center corresponding to the center of the object.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a compressive sensing technique.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a learned dictionary model.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a circular regression model.

8. A radar control system for a vehicle, the radar control system comprising:

one or more transmitters configured to transmit radar signals;

a plurality of receivers configured to receive return radar signals after the transmitted radar signals are deflected from an object proximate the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the plurality of receiver and configured to;

generate a plurality of feature vectors based on the returned radar signals; and

generate a three dimensional representation of the object using the plurality of feature vectors.

9. The radar control system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the three dimensional representation as a union of the plurality of feature vectors over a three dimensional array.

10. The radar control system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an azimuth angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determine an elevation angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determine a range for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals; and

generate the three dimensional representation as the union of the plurality of feature vectors over the three dimensional array having first, second, and third dimensions based on the azimuth angle, the elevation angle, and the range.

11. The radar control system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a location of the object, including a center of the object; and

generate the three dimensional representation as the union of the plurality of feature vectors over the three dimensional array having a center corresponding to the center of the object.

12. The radar control system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a compressive sensing technique.

13. The radar control system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a learned dictionary model.

14. The radar control system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a circular regression model.

15. A computer system for a radar system of a vehicle, the radar system having a plurality of receivers, the computer system comprising:

a non-transitory, computer readable storage medium storing a program, the program configured to;

receive radar signals pertaining to an object via each of the plurality of receivers;

generate a plurality of feature vectors based on the radar signals; and

generate a three dimensional representation of the object using the plurality of feature vectors.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program is further configured to generate the three dimensional representation as a union of the plurality of feature vectors over a three dimensional array.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the program is further configured to:

determine an azimuth angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determine an elevation angle for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determine a range for the object with respect to the vehicle based on the radar signals;

determine a location of the object, including a center of the object; and

generate the three dimensional representation as the union of the plurality of feature vectors over the three dimensional array having first, second, and third dimensions based on the azimuth angle, the elevation angle, and the range and having a center corresponding to the center of the object.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a compressed sensing technique.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a learned dictionary model.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program is further configured to classify the object based upon the three dimensional representation and a circular regression model.