Waymo llc (20240338023). Wide-View LIDAR with Areas of Special Attention simplified abstract
Contents
Wide-View LIDAR with Areas of Special Attention
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Bradley Templeton of Sunnyvale CA (US)
Pierre-Yves Droz of Mountain View CA (US)
Jiajun Zhu of Sunnyvale CA (US)
Wide-View LIDAR with Areas of Special Attention - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240338023 titled 'Wide-View LIDAR with Areas of Special Attention
The patent application describes a system and method involving scanning a light detection and ranging (lidar) device through a range of orientations within a scanning zone, emitting light pulses, receiving returning light pulses, and determining initial point cloud data based on time delays and orientations of the lidar device.
- The method identifies reflective features in the scanning zone and determines an enhancement region and an enhanced angular resolution for a subsequent scan to improve spatial resolution in the subsequent point cloud data corresponding to the reflective feature.
- By adjusting the scanning parameters based on the initial point cloud data, the system can enhance the resolution and accuracy of the subsequent scans, particularly in areas with reflective features.
- This innovation allows for more detailed and accurate mapping of environments, such as urban areas, forests, or construction sites, by improving the quality of point cloud data obtained from lidar scans.
- The system's ability to automatically adjust scanning parameters based on initial data reduces the need for manual intervention and improves the efficiency of lidar data collection and processing.
- Overall, this technology enhances the capabilities of lidar systems in capturing high-resolution 3D data for various applications, including urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental monitoring.
Potential Applications: - Urban planning and development - Forestry and environmental monitoring - Construction site mapping and monitoring - Autonomous vehicle navigation and obstacle detection - Archaeological site mapping and preservation efforts
Problems Solved: - Enhancing spatial resolution in lidar point cloud data - Improving accuracy in mapping and surveying applications - Automating scanning parameters adjustment for optimal data collection - Enhancing the detection and mapping of reflective features in the environment
Benefits: - Higher spatial resolution in lidar point cloud data - Improved accuracy and detail in mapping applications - Increased efficiency in data collection and processing - Enhanced capabilities for various industries and research fields
Commercial Applications: Title: Enhanced Lidar Scanning System for High-Resolution Mapping This technology has significant commercial potential in industries such as urban planning, forestry, construction, autonomous vehicles, and archaeology. The ability to improve spatial resolution and accuracy in lidar data collection can lead to more precise mapping and monitoring solutions, driving innovation and efficiency in various sectors.
Questions about Lidar Scanning System: 1. How does the enhanced angular resolution in subsequent scans improve the quality of point cloud data? 2. What are the key advantages of automating scanning parameter adjustments based on initial point cloud data?
Original Abstract Submitted
a system and method include scanning a light detection and ranging (lidar) device through a range of orientations corresponding to a scanning zone while emitting light pulses from the lidar device. the method also includes receiving returning light pulses corresponding to the light pulses emitted from the lidar device and determining initial point cloud data based on time delays between emitting the light pulses and receiving the corresponding returning light pulses and the orientations of the lidar device. the initial point cloud data has an initial angular resolution. the method includes identifying, based on the initial point cloud data, a reflective feature in the scanning zone and determining an enhancement region and an enhanced angular resolution for a subsequent scan to provide a higher spatial resolution in at least a portion of subsequent point cloud data from the subsequent scan corresponding to the reflective feature.
