G01S17/87

RENDERING-BASED LIDAR AND CAMERA ALIGNMENT

A method for alignment a lidar with a camera of a vehicle includes: aggregating multiple lidar scans performed by the lidar of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion to generate an aggregated point-cloud; rendering the aggregate point-cloud onto a camera image to generate a rendered image; comparing the rendered image with the camera image to determine a difference between the rendered image and the camera image, wherein a difference value is indicative of the difference between the rendered image and the camera image is represented; and determining that the camera is aligned with the lidar in response to determining that the difference value is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

LIDAR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE CORNER MOUNT

A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system for at least partial integration with a vehicle roof is disclosed. The system comprises one or more optical core assemblies at least partially integrated with the vehicle roof and positioned proximate to one or more pillars of the vehicle roof. At least one optical core assembly comprises an oscillating reflective element, an optical polygon element, and transmitting and collection optics. At least a portion or a side surface of the at least one optical core assembly protrudes outside of a planar surface of the vehicle roof to facilitate scanning of light. The portion of the at least one optical core assembly that protrudes outside of the planar surface of the vehicle roof also protrudes in a vertical direction by an amount corresponding to a lateral arrangement of the optical polygon element, the oscillating reflective element, and the transmitting and collection optics.

3D object sensing system
11538183 · 2022-12-27 · ·

A 3D object sensing system includes an object positioning unit, an object sensing unit, and an evaluation unit. The object positioning unit has a rotatable platform and a platform position sensing unit. The object sensing unit includes two individual sensing systems which each have a sensing area. A positioning unit defines a positional relation of the individual sensing systems to one another. The two individual sensing systems sense object data of object points of the 3D object and provide the object data the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit includes respective evaluation modules for each of the at least two individual sensing systems, an overall evaluation module and a generation module.

3D object sensing system
11538183 · 2022-12-27 · ·

A 3D object sensing system includes an object positioning unit, an object sensing unit, and an evaluation unit. The object positioning unit has a rotatable platform and a platform position sensing unit. The object sensing unit includes two individual sensing systems which each have a sensing area. A positioning unit defines a positional relation of the individual sensing systems to one another. The two individual sensing systems sense object data of object points of the 3D object and provide the object data the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit includes respective evaluation modules for each of the at least two individual sensing systems, an overall evaluation module and a generation module.

Elevation detection system for autonomous vehicles and a method thereof
11536846 · 2022-12-27 · ·

The present disclosure relates to an elevation detection system for an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) and a method for detecting elevation of surrounding of the AV. The elevation detection system includes an elevation sensor unit and a computation unit. The elevation sensor unit is configured to detect an elevation of a plurality of objects having a lower most elevation, in the surrounding of the AV to determine a boundary elevation of the road. The elevation sensor unit is vertically movable within a range of vertical positions. A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor unit is associated with the elevation sensor unit, to detect the surrounding of the AV, having a predefined Field of View (FoV). The computation unit determines a lower limit value of the FoV and provides it to the LIDAR sensor unit for accurately detecting obstacles in the road.

Directed energy (DE) weapon and passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imager for target tracking

A DE energy weapon and tracking system includes a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver on a common gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation from a mmW scene. The PmmW imaging receiver operates in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum distinct from the IR bands associated with thermal blooming or the HEL laser. In the case of a HPM source, the reflected energy is either in a different RF band and/or of diminished amplitude such as to not interfere with operation of the PmmW imaging receiver. Although lower resolution than traditional optical imaging, PmmW imaging provides a viable alternative for target tracking when the DE weapon is actively prosecuting the target and provides additional tracking information when the DE weapon is not engaged.

Directed energy (DE) weapon and passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imager for target tracking

A DE energy weapon and tracking system includes a passive millimeter wave (PmmW) imaging receiver on a common gimbaled telescope to sense natural electromagnetic radiation from a mmW scene. The PmmW imaging receiver operates in a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum distinct from the IR bands associated with thermal blooming or the HEL laser. In the case of a HPM source, the reflected energy is either in a different RF band and/or of diminished amplitude such as to not interfere with operation of the PmmW imaging receiver. Although lower resolution than traditional optical imaging, PmmW imaging provides a viable alternative for target tracking when the DE weapon is actively prosecuting the target and provides additional tracking information when the DE weapon is not engaged.

High dynamic range receiver for a LIDAR sensor

A receiver circuit for a sensor includes a photosensitive input circuit and a logarithmic-signal circuit including a PN junction coupled to a pulse voltage node. The pulse voltage node may be coupled to the P-type terminal of the PN junction and an output of the photosensitive input circuit. In some examples, the receiver circuit also may include a linear-signal circuit and/or a square-root-signal circuit.

Lane localization system and method
11535257 · 2022-12-27 · ·

A lane localization system and method that may include a first measurement distance sensor located on a right-hand side of a vehicle and a second measurement distance sensor located on a left-hand side of the vehicle. The system and method may also be operable to receive data from at least one of the first measurement distance sensor or the second measurement distance sensor. The system and method may further determine which lane along a road the vehicle is traveling within based on a comparison a frequency of one or more echoes indicative of one or more objects located on the right-hand side and the left-hand side of the vehicle.

ONLINE VALIDATION OF LIDAR-TO-LIDAR ALIGNMENT AND LIDAR-TO-VEHICLE ALIGNMENT
20220404506 · 2022-12-22 ·

A LIDAR-to-LIDAR alignment system includes a memory and an autonomous driving module. The memory stores first and second points based on outputs of first and second LIDAR sensors. The autonomous driving module performs a validation process to determine whether alignment of the LIDAR sensors satisfy an alignment condition. The validation process includes: aggregating the first and second points in a vehicle coordinate system to provide aggregated LIDAR points; based on the aggregated LIDAR points, performing (i) a first method including determining pitch and roll differences between the first and second LIDAR sensors, (ii) a second method including determining a yaw difference between the first and second LIDAR sensors, or (iii) point cloud registration to determine rotation and translation differences between the first and second LIDAR sensors; and based on results of the first method, the second method or the point cloud registration, determining whether the alignment condition is satisfied.