Vehicle systems and methods utilizing LIDAR data for road condition estimation
US11592566B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2019 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60W2552/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for estimating road conditions ahead of a vehicle, including: a LIDAR sensor operable for generating a LIDAR point cloud; a processor executing a road condition estimation algorithm stored in a memory, the road condition estimation algorithm performing the steps including: detecting a ground plane or drivable surface in the LIDAR point cloud; superimposing an M×N matrix on at least a portion of the LIDAR point cloud; for each patch of the LIDAR point cloud defined by the M×N matrix, statistically evaluating a relative position, a feature elevation, and a scaled reflectance index; and, from the statistically evaluated relative position, feature elevation, and scaled reflectance index, determining a slipperiness probability for each patch of the LIDAR point cloud; and a vehicle control system operable for, based on the determined slipperiness probability for each patch of the LIDAR point cloud, affecting an operation of the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.