Multimodal multi-technique signal fusion system for autonomous vehicle

A method performed by an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

• generating a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal, wherein the first sensor signal is generated by a fixed exposure camera system of the autonomous vehicle and the second sensor signal is generated by an auto exposure camera system of the autonomous vehicle;
• generating a first independent directive and a second independent directive that each define a vehicle maneuver based upon an illuminated configuration of a traffic light captured in the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal;
• fusing the first independent directive and the second independent directive to output a fused directive;
• and
• controlling a mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle based upon the fused directive.

An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

• a mechanical system;
• at least one sensor system configured to output a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal, wherein the first sensor signal captures a shape of an object and a second sensor signal captures a color of the object;
• a computing system in communication with the mechanical system and the at least one sensor system, wherein the computing system comprises:
• a processor;
• and
• memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
• generating a first independent directive and a second independent directive that each define a vehicle maneuver based upon an illuminated configuration of a traffic light captured in the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal;
• fusing the first independent directive and the second independent directive to output a fused directive;
• and
• controlling the mechanical system based upon the fused directive.