Patent · US Active

Obstacle detection and avoidance system for autonomous aircraft and other autonomous vehicles

US12038768B2 · kind B2 · utility

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15Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 2021
Grant dateJul 16, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG08G5/57
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of providing a collision avoiding travel path for an autonomous vehicle. A sensor system obtains stereo image data of a scene in the environment ahead of the normal travel path. This image data is used to generate a disparity image. The disparity image is processed to generate an occupancy map that assigns values to areas of the scene based on levels of visual clutter. The occupancy map is then converted to a potential field, which assigns each pixel in the scene with a force value that corresponds to its proximity to one or more obstacles. These force value are summed and used to modify the vehicle's path is a collision is likely.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.