Estimating the ego-motion of a vehicle, e.g., the self-motion of the vehicle, can be improved by pre-processing data from two or more radars onboard the vehicle using a processor common to the two or more radars. The common processor can pre-process the data using a velocity vector processing technique that can estimate a velocity vector at each point of a predefined number of points, such as arranged in a grid in the field-of-view of radars, with coordinates (X, Y, Z (optional)), where U is the component of the velocity in the X-direction, V is the component of the velocity in the Y-direction, and W is the component of the velocity in the optional Z-direction.

Estimating the ego-motion of a vehicle, e.g., the self-motion of the vehicle, can be improved by pre-processing data from two or more radars onboard the vehicle using a processor common to the two or more radars. The common processor can pre-process the data using a velocity vector processing technique that can estimate a velocity vector at each point of a predefined number of points, such as arranged in a grid in the field-of-view of radars, with coordinates (X, Y, Z (optional)), where U is the component of the velocity in the X-direction, V is the component of the velocity in the Y-direction, and W is the component of the velocity in the optional Z-direction.

A vehicle control device assists in checking a rear side of an own vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a position estimation unit, an SN index calculation unit, a lane determination unit, and an alarm determination unit. The position estimation unit estimates a lateral position of an other vehicle based on a reflected wave of a radar wave. The SN index calculation unit calculates, based on the reflected wave, an SN index indicating a relationship between level of a noise and level of a signal. In response to determining a lane in which the other vehicle is traveling based on information on the lateral position of the other vehicle, the lane determination unit performs determination on the lane based on the SN index. The alarm determination unit determines whether a condition for issuing an alarm about the other vehicle is satisfied based on a result of determination of the lane.

A method for measuring, using a radar or sonar, the velocity with respect to the ground of a carrier moving parallel to the ground, includes the following steps: a) orienting the line of sight of the radar or sonar toward the ground; b) emitting a plurality of radar or sonar signals (P.sub.1-P.sub.N) that are directed toward the ground, and acquiring respective echo signals (E.sub.1-E.sub.N); c) processing the acquired echo signals so as to obtain, for one or more echo delay values, a corresponding Doppler spectrum; d) for the or at least one the echo delay value, determining a high cut-off frequency of the corresponding Doppler spectrum; and e) computing the velocity of the carrier with respect to the ground on the basis of the one or more high cut-off frequencies. A system allowing such a method to be implemented.

A method for measuring, using a radar or sonar, the velocity with respect to the ground of a carrier moving parallel to the ground, includes the following steps: a) orienting the line of sight of the radar or sonar toward the ground; b) emitting a plurality of radar or sonar signals (P.sub.1-P.sub.N) that are directed toward the ground, and acquiring respective echo signals (E.sub.1-E.sub.N); c) processing the acquired echo signals so as to obtain, for one or more echo delay values, a corresponding Doppler spectrum; d) for the or at least one the echo delay value, determining a high cut-off frequency of the corresponding Doppler spectrum; and e) computing the velocity of the carrier with respect to the ground on the basis of the one or more high cut-off frequencies. A system allowing such a method to be implemented.

A system for determining a stationary state of a rail vehicle on a track includes a first radar mounted at an end of the rail vehicle and a second radar mounted at another end of the rail vehicle. A speed sensor is mounted on the rail vehicle. A series of fixed reflective track features are found along the track. A processing unit, communicably connected with the speed sensor, the first radar and the second radar receives data from the first radar and the second radar corresponding to the distance to the fixed reflective track features and determines the stationary state or low-speed condition of the rail vehicle and checks the state or condition by comparing it with an output of the speed sensor.

A system for determining a stationary state of a rail vehicle on a track includes a first radar mounted at an end of the rail vehicle and a second radar mounted at another end of the rail vehicle. A speed sensor is mounted on the rail vehicle. A series of fixed reflective track features are found along the track. A processing unit, communicably connected with the speed sensor, the first radar and the second radar receives data from the first radar and the second radar corresponding to the distance to the fixed reflective track features and determines the stationary state or low-speed condition of the rail vehicle and checks the state or condition by comparing it with an output of the speed sensor.

An apparatus (100) for compensating for weather-independent Doppler expansions in radar signals of a weather radar system (200) is disclosed. The device comprises: a receiving device (110) for receiving a representation (50) of the radar signals, a calculation device (120) and a compensation device (130). The representation includes pixels of a range Doppler matrix. The calculation device (120) is designed to calculate azimuth angles (Azi) for the pixels (75) by means of fine bearing. The compensation device (130) is designed to correct weather-independent Doppler shifts for the pixels (75) based on the calculated azimuth angle (Azi; AziMopu) and thus to compensate for the weather-independent Doppler expansions and to provide them as a compensated representation (150).

A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for identifying the back of a particular vehicle (e.g., a platoon partner) in a set of distance measurement scenes and/or for tracking the back of such a vehicle. The described techniques can be used in conjunction with a variety of different distance measuring technologies including radar, LIDAR, camera based distance measuring units and others. The described approaches are well suited for use in vehicle platooning and/or vehicle convoying systems including tractor-trailer truck platooning applications. In another aspect, technique are described for fusing sensor data obtained from different vehicles for use in the at least partial automatic control of a particular vehicle. The described techniques are well suited for use in conjunction with a variety of different vehicle control applications including platooning, convoying and other connected driving applications including tractor-trailer truck platooning applications.

The position detecting apparatus repeatedly acquires, from a radar apparatus, object information including at least an object distance as a distance between the radar apparatus and a reflecting object and a relative speed between the radar apparatus and a reflecting object. The position detecting apparatus calculates a speed ratio as a ratio between the relative speed and the travelling speed. The position detecting apparatus calculates, based on the speed ratio, a projection distance between a projected position of the reflecting object projected onto a projection plane and a position of the radar apparatus on the projection plane, the projection plane having a predetermined angle with respect to a center axis indicating a direction along which the radar waves are transmitted by the radar apparatus and including the radar apparatus. The position detection apparatus calculates the position of the reflecting object based on the calculated projection distance.