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US 11,550,322 B1Granted
External environment sensor data prioritization for autonomous vehicle
AssigneeAurora Operations, Inc.
InventorsCameron David Christie, Anuranga Sajith Gunaratne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensor data is received from an array of sensors configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of an autonomous vehicle. A first sensor group is selected from the array of sensors based on proximity data or environmental contexts. First sensor data from the first sensor group is prioritized for transmission based on the proximity data or environmental contexts.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, with a network switch, sensor data from an array of sensors that are configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of an autonomous vehicle, wherein the network switch includes processing logic of the network switch, wherein the network switch is configured to transfer the sensor data from the array of sensors to processing logic of the autonomous vehicle;
- determining, with processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, a particular object of the external environment from the sensor data, wherein the processing logic of the autonomous vehicle is coupled to the network switch through a data interface;
- selecting a first sensor group from the array of sensors of the autonomous vehicle based on a proximity of the particular object to the autonomous vehicle wherein the first sensor group includes at least one sensor positioned to detect the particular object;
- receiving, by the network switch, first sensor data from the first sensor group and second sensor data from a second sensor group from the array of sensors;
- and
- based on selecting the first sensor group, prioritizing, by the processing logic of the network switch, an order of transmission of the first sensor data over the second sensor data by transmitting, from the network switch to processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, the first sensor data and subsequently transmitting the second sensor data.
3 more elements
An autonomous vehicle comprising:
- an array of sensors configured to capture one or more objects of an external environment of the autonomous vehicle and to generate sensor data related to the external environment;
- processing logic of the autonomous vehicle configured to determine a particular object of the external environment from the sensor data;
- and
- a network switch communicatively coupled to the processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the network switch is configured to receive the sensor data from the array of sensors and transfer the sensor data to the processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the network switch includes:
- processing logic of the network switch;
- a prioritization engine configured to prioritize a transmission of first sensor data from a first sensor group of the array of sensors over transmission of second sensor data from a second sensor group of the array of sensors, wherein an order of transmission, from the network switch to the processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, of the first sensor data and the second sensor data is prioritized by the network switch, based on proximity data received by the processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, the proximity data representative of a proximity of the particular object to the autonomous vehicle;
- and
- an output communication port configured to transmit the first sensor data and the second sensor data.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving sensor data from an array of sensors that are configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of an autonomous vehicle;
- determining an environmental context of the autonomous vehicle;
- selecting a first sensor group from the array of sensors of the autonomous vehicle based on the environmental context;
- receiving, by a network switch, first sensor data from the first sensor group and second sensor data from a second sensor group from the array of sensors;
- and
- based on selecting the first sensor group, prioritizing, by the network switch, an order of transmission of the first sensor data over the second sensor data by transmitting, from the network switch to processing logic of the autonomous vehicle, the first sensor data prior to transmitting the second sensor data.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.