AUTOMATED VEHICLE SENSOR CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20180120845A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motional AD, LLC (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: LAMBERMONT, SERGE, WEI, JUNQING, LEE, JONG HO, XU, WENDA
• Granted Patent: US 10,025,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/403 in azimuth, i.e. in the horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4972 Alignment of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931

Abstract

A sensor-control system for operating an automated vehicle includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor is used to detect objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The first sensor is characterized by a first-sensing-technology. The second sensor is used to detect objects proximate to the host-vehicle. The second sensor is characterized by a second-sensing-technology different from the first-sensing-technology. The controller is in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor. A location of an object detected by the first-sensor is used to select a field-of-view of the second-sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor-control system for operating an automated vehicle, said system comprising:

a first sensor used to detect objects proximate to a host-vehicle, said first sensor characterized by a first-sensing-technology;

a second sensor used to detect objects proximate to the host-vehicle, said second sensor characterized by a second-sensing-technology different from the first-sensing-technology;

a controller in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein a location of an object detected by the first-sensor is used to select a field-of-view of the second-sensor.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first sensor is one of a camera, a lidar-unit, and a radar-unit;

the second sensor is one of a camera, a lidar-unit, and a radar-unit; and

the first sensor is different from the second sensor.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is present in the field-of-view.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is not present in the field-of-view.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a classification of the object is determined based on information from the first sensor, and the classification is used to select an analysis-strategy for information from the second sensor.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a classification of the object is determined based on information from the first sensor, and the classification is used to select which of a plurality of sensors is used as the second sensor.