CAMERA SYSTEMS USING FILTERS AND EXPOSURE TIMES TO DETECT FLICKERING ILLUMINATED OBJECTS

    公开(公告)号:US20220254048A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-11

    申请号:US17729483

    申请日:2022-04-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to camera systems for vehicles having an autonomous driving mode. An example system includes a first camera mounted on a vehicle in order to capture images of the vehicle's environment. The first camera has a first exposure time and being without an ND filter. The system also includes a second camera mounted on the vehicle in order to capture images of the vehicle's environment and having an ND filter. The system also includes one or more processors configured to capture images using the first camera and the first exposure time, capture images using the second camera and the second exposure time, use the images captured using the second camera to identify illuminated objects, use the images captured using the first camera to identify the locations of objects, and use the identified illuminated objects and identified locations of objects to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

    Tailoring sensor emission power to map, vehicle state, and environment

    公开(公告)号:US11408991B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-09

    申请号:US17110762

    申请日:2020-12-03

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate active sensor systems. An example method includes receiving information indicative of an operating context of a vehicle, wherein at least one Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor or at least one radar sensor are coupled to the vehicle. The method also includes selecting, from a plurality of sensor power configurations, a desired sensor power configuration based on the operating context of the vehicle. The method further includes causing at least one of: the at least one LIDAR sensor to emit light pulses according to the desired sensor power configuration or the at least one radar sensor to emit radar energy according to the desired sensor power configuration.

    Variable Beam Spacing, Timing, and Power for Vehicle Sensors

    公开(公告)号:US20220244356A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-04

    申请号:US17722092

    申请日:2022-04-15

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example transmit block includes at least one substrate with a plurality of angled facets. The plurality of angled facets provides a corresponding plurality of elevation angles. A set of angle differences between adjacent elevation angles includes at least two different angle difference values. A plurality of light-emitter devices is configured to emit light into an environment along the plurality of elevation angles toward respective target locations so as to provide a desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle. The present disclosure also relates to adjusting shot power and a shot schedule based on the desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle.

    DETECTING AND RESPONDING TO SIRENS
    54.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220005348A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-01-06

    申请号:US17476830

    申请日:2021-09-16

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to detecting and responding to emergency vehicles. This may include using a plurality of microphones to detect a siren noise corresponding to an emergency vehicle and to estimate a bearing of the emergency vehicle. This estimated bearing is compared to map information to identify a portion of roadway on which the emergency vehicle is traveling. In addition, information identifying a set of objects in the vehicle's environment as well as characteristics of those objects is received from a perception system is used to determine whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. How to respond to the emergency vehicle is determined based on the estimated bearing and identified road segments and the determination of whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. This determined response is then used to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

    Synchronized Spinning LIDAR and Rolling Shutter Camera System

    公开(公告)号:US20210203864A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-07-01

    申请号:US17186121

    申请日:2021-02-26

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: One example system comprises a LIDAR sensor that rotates about an axis to scan an environment of the LIDAR sensor. The system also comprises one or more cameras that detect external light originating from one or more external light sources. The one or more cameras together provide a plurality of rows of sensing elements. The rows of sensing elements are aligned with the axis of rotation of the LIDAR sensor. The system also comprises a controller that operates the one or more cameras to obtain a sequence of image pixel rows. A first image pixel row in the sequence is indicative of external light detected by a first row of sensing elements during a first exposure time period. A second image pixel row in the sequence is indicative of external light detected by a second row of sensing elements during a second exposure time period.

    Camera systems using filters and exposure times to detect flickering illuminated objects

    公开(公告)号:US10776938B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-09-15

    申请号:US16567221

    申请日:2019-09-11

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to camera systems for vehicles having an autonomous driving mode. An example system includes a first camera mounted on a vehicle in order to capture images of the vehicle's environment. The first camera has a first exposure time and being without an ND filter. The system also includes a second camera mounted on the vehicle in order to capture images of the vehicle's environment and having an ND filter. The system also includes one or more processors configured to capture images using the first camera and the first exposure time, capture images using the second camera and the second exposure time, use the images captured using the second camera to identify illuminated objects, use the images captured using the first camera to identify the locations of objects, and use the identified illuminated objects and identified locations of objects to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

    DETECTING AND RESPONDING TO SIRENS
    59.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200234579A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-07-23

    申请号:US16843928

    申请日:2020-04-09

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The technology relates to detecting and responding to emergency vehicles. This may include using a plurality of microphones to detect a siren noise corresponding to an emergency vehicle and to estimate a bearing of the emergency vehicle. This estimated bearing is compared to map information to identify a portion of roadway on which the emergency vehicle is traveling. In addition, information identifying a set of objects in the vehicle's environment as well as characteristics of those objects is received from a perception system is used to determine whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. How to respond to the emergency vehicle is determined based on the estimated bearing and identified road segments and the determination of whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. This determined response is then used to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.

    Variable Beam Spacing, Timing, and Power for Vehicle Sensors

    公开(公告)号:US20200225327A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-07-16

    申请号:US16828773

    申请日:2020-03-24

    Applicant: Waymo LLC

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that facilitate light detection and ranging operations. An example transmit block includes at least one substrate with a plurality of angled facets. The plurality of angled facets provides a corresponding plurality of elevation angles. A set of angle differences between adjacent elevation angles includes at least two different angle difference values. A plurality of light-emitter devices is configured to emit light into an environment along the plurality of elevation angles toward respective target locations so as to provide a desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle. The present disclosure also relates to adjusting shot power and a shot schedule based on the desired resolution and/or a respective elevation angle.

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