Systems and methods for adjusting the position of sensors of an automated vehicle
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Delp, Danil V. Prokhorov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for adjusting the position of one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of sensor arms, a plurality of sensor manipulators attached to each of the plurality of sensor arms. The system can be configured to receive output from the one or more sensors, and determine if an occlusion zone is detected. Based on the objects creating the occlusion zone, the sensors can be adjusted to decrease the size of the occlusion zone.
Claims13
A system for adjusting the position of one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of sensor arms attached to a roof of the autonomous vehicle;
- a plurality of sensor manipulators attached to each of the plurality of sensor arms by a ball and socket connection;
- a plurality of sensor sections, the sensor sections attached to each of the plurality of sensor manipulators;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to
- receive output from the one or more sensors,
- determine if an occlusion zone is detected,
- receive information corresponding to one or more objects creating the occlusion zone in response to the detection of the occlusion zone,
- adjust a position of the one or more sensors based on the information corresponding to the one or more objects creating the occlusion zone to decrease the size of the occlusion zone, and
- determine whether an object detected in the occlusion zone after the size of the occlusion zone is decreased is a human or animal by matching the object to one or more reference objects stored in a memory.
A method of adjusting the position of a plurality of sensors of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- receiving output from the plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being attached to a plurality of sensor manipulators, the plurality of sensor manipulators being attached to a plurality of sensor arms that are attached to a roof of the autonomous vehicle, each of the plurality of sensor manipulators being attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor arms by a ball and socket connection;
- determining, via processing circuitry, if an occlusion zone is detected;
- receiving information corresponding to one or more objects creating the occlusion zone in response to the detection of the occlusion zone;
- and
- adjusting a position of the one or more sensors based on the information corresponding to the one or more objects creating the occlusion zone to decrease the size of the occlusion zone, the one or more sensors being attached to sensor manipulators by a ball and socket connection;
- and
- determining whether an object detected in the occlusion zone after the size of the occlusion zone is decreased is a human or an animal by matching the object to one or more reference objects stored in a memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.