Methods and systems for estimating rain rate via vehicle imaging radar
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorMichael Fina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example embodiments relate to techniques for using vehicle image radar to estimate rain rate and other weather conditions. A computing device may receive radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle. The radar data can represent the vehicle's environment. The computing device may use the radar data to determine a radar representation that indicates backscatter power and estimate, using a rain rate model, a rain rate for the environment based on the radar representation. The computing device may then control the vehicle based on the rain rate. In some examples, the computing device may provide the rain rate estimation and an indication of its current location to other vehicles to enable the vehicles to adjust routes based on the rain rate estimation.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, at a computing device, radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle, wherein the radar data represents an environment of the vehicle;
- based on the radar data, determining one or more two-dimensional (2D) radar images having pixels that indicate backscatter power;
- performing a comparison between power levels of the pixels in the one or more 2D radar images and power levels indicated by a rain rate model;
- estimating, by the computing device, a rain rate for the environment based on the comparison;
- and
- controlling the vehicle based on the rain rate.
A system comprising:
- a vehicle having a radar unit;
- a computing device configured to:
- receive radar data from the radar unit, wherein the radar data represents an environment of the vehicle;
- based on the radar data, determine one or more two-dimensional (2D) radar images having pixels that indicate backscatter power;
- perform a comparison between power levels of the pixels in the one or more 2D radar images and power levels indicated by a rain rate model;
- estimate a rain rate for the environment based on the comparison;
- and
- control the vehicle based on the rain rate.
A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions, that when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:
- receiving radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle, wherein the radar data represents an environment of the vehicle;
- based on the radar data, determining one or more two-dimensional (2D) radar images having pixels that indicate backscatter power;
- performing a comparison between power levels of the pixels in the one or more 2D radar images and power levels indicated by a rain rate model;
- estimating a rain rate for the environment based on the comparison;
- and
- controlling the vehicle based on the rain rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.