CPC G01S 13/867 (2013.01) [G01S 13/87 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); G06V 10/143 (2022.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); G06V 20/58 (2022.01); G01S 2013/9315 (2020.01); G01S 2013/9318 (2020.01); G01S 2013/93185 (2020.01); G01S 2013/9319 (2020.01); G01S 2013/93271 (2020.01); G01S 2013/93274 (2020.01); G01S 2013/93275 (2020.01); G01S 2013/93276 (2020.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. An apparatus for sensing a vehicular environment of a vehicle, comprising:
a first sensing circuit;
a second sensing circuit; and
a processing means for determining vehicular control data based on at least one first vehicular environment scene data, and for determining further vehicular control data based on at least one second vehicular environment scene data;
wherein, the first sensing circuit includes at least one sensor,
wherein, the second sensing circuit includes at least one sensor,
wherein, the first sensing circuit is powered by a first power supply,
wherein, the second sensing circuit is powered by a second power supply,
wherein, the first sensing circuit acquires the at least one first vehicular environment scene data, and the second sensing circuit acquires the at least one second vehicular environment scene data,
wherein, the first sensing circuit provides the at least one first vehicular scene data to the processing means, and the second sensing circuit is configured to provide the at least one second vehicular scene data to the processing means,
wherein, the first vehicular control data and the second vehicular control data are each independently useable by a vehicle to automatically perform at least one safety maneuver including at least one of: braking, deceleration, and/or movement to a slow lane or a hard shoulder,
wherein the at least one sensor of the first sensing circuit includes a Far field Forward Looking Camera (FLC) providing lane marking and in lane object detection, a Far field Forward Looking Radar (FLR) providing in lane object detection, including in bad weather conditions, a Wide angle Side Looking Radars (SLR) at each side of the vehicle providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the close proximity of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination, a Far field Rear Looking Camera (RLC) providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the far field of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination, and a Far field Rear Looking Radar (RLR) providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the far field of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination in bad weather conditions,
wherein the at least one sensor of the second sensing circuit includes another Far field Forward Looking Camera (FLC) providing lane marking and in lane object detection, another Far field Forward Looking Radar (FLR) providing in lane object detection, including in bad weather conditions, another Wide angle Side Looking Radars (SLR) at each side of the vehicle providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the close proximity of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination, another Far field Rear Looking Camera (RLC) providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the far field of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination, and another Far field Rear Looking Radar (RLR) providing monitoring and object detection in the neighboring lanes in the far field of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination, including in bad weather conditions,
wherein the processing means determines further vehicular control data, including third vehicular control data based on a sensor status of the at least one sensor of the first sensing circuit, and fourth vehicular control data based on a sensor status of the at least one sensor of the second sensing circuit; and wherein the third vehicular control data and the fourth vehicular control data are each independently useable by a vehicle to initiate performance of the at least one safety maneuver, including at least one of: braking, deceleration, and/or movement to the slow lane or the hard shoulder,
wherein when it is determined that the first power supply to the first sensing system has failed or when it is determined that the second power supply to the second sensing system has failed, the processing means initiates the at least one safety maneuver that is performed using scene data provided by the other sensing system, so that the vehicle is able to safely perform the at least one safety maneuver when it is established that only one sensor circuit is operational to provide scene data, so as to reduce problems when the second sensing circuit fails after the first sensing circuit, because the vehicle already has safely performed the at least one safety maneuver,
wherein the first sensing circuit includes at least one fisheye downward looking corner camera, and the second sensing circuit includes at least one fisheye downward looking corner camera, so that object detection and monitoring are provided at the front corners of the vehicle in a direct proximity of the vehicle not covered by the FLCs and the FLRs,
all weather functionality is provided and day and night operability is enhanced, where the at least one safety maneuver can be carried out even when one of the sensing circuits fails or otherwise stops providing scene data, and
wherein the first sensing circuit, including different types of sensors, operates as a main sensor system to provide the at least one first vehicular environment scene data to the processing means, wherein processed first vehicular environment scene data is usable by the vehicle to automatically perform all highway functions, and wherein the second sensing circuit, which is a less sophisticated sensor that only enables the vehicle to perform the at least one safety maneuver, and wherein the second vehicular control data is independently useable by the vehicle to automatically perform only the at least one safety maneuver.
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