Autonomous vehicle localization system
First Claim
1. A system, mounted on a first vehicle, for localizing a second vehicle, comprising:
- a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a first wireless message;
a localization signal emitter configured to emit a first localization signal comprising pulsed visible or infrared light synchronized with the first wireless message;
a wireless receiver configured to receive a second wireless message from the second vehicle;
a localization signal detector configured to detect a second localization signal from the second vehicle and to measure an arrival direction of the second localization signal, wherein the second localization signal comprises pulsed visible or infrared light synchronized with the second wireless message; and
a processor configured to cause the localization signal emitter to emit the first localization signal synchronously with the first wireless message, to determine a direction of the second vehicle according to the arrival direction of the second localization signal, and to associate the second localization signal and the second wireless message with the second vehicle, wherein the processor is configured to avoid interfering with ongoing wireless messages by;
determining whether a first interfering wireless message is present;
responsive to determining that the first interfering message is present, waiting until the first interfering message has completed being received;
waiting, after the first interfering message has completed being received, for a first waiting interval;
preparing and commencing a first gate interval following the first waiting interval; and
determining, at a random time within the first gate interval, whether a second interfering wireless message is present.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Autonomous vehicles may communicate with each other to avoid hazards, mitigate collisions, and facilitate the flow of traffic. To enhance such cooperation, it would be highly advantageous if each vehicle were able to determine which vehicle in view corresponds to each communication message, which is generally unknown if a plurality of vehicles are in range. Systems and methods provided herein can enable autonomous vehicles to determine the spatial location of each proximate vehicle by detecting a pulsed localization signal emitted by each of the other vehicles. In addition, each vehicle can transmit a self-identifying code, synchronous with the emitted localization signal, so that other vehicles can associate the proper code with each vehicle. After such localization and identification, the vehicles can then cooperate more effectively in mitigating potential collisions.
243 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A system, mounted on a first vehicle, for localizing a second vehicle, comprising:
-
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a first wireless message; a localization signal emitter configured to emit a first localization signal comprising pulsed visible or infrared light synchronized with the first wireless message; a wireless receiver configured to receive a second wireless message from the second vehicle; a localization signal detector configured to detect a second localization signal from the second vehicle and to measure an arrival direction of the second localization signal, wherein the second localization signal comprises pulsed visible or infrared light synchronized with the second wireless message; and a processor configured to cause the localization signal emitter to emit the first localization signal synchronously with the first wireless message, to determine a direction of the second vehicle according to the arrival direction of the second localization signal, and to associate the second localization signal and the second wireless message with the second vehicle, wherein the processor is configured to avoid interfering with ongoing wireless messages by; determining whether a first interfering wireless message is present; responsive to determining that the first interfering message is present, waiting until the first interfering message has completed being received; waiting, after the first interfering message has completed being received, for a first waiting interval; preparing and commencing a first gate interval following the first waiting interval; and determining, at a random time within the first gate interval, whether a second interfering wireless message is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification