DE-102020124637-B4 - Device that identifies the composition of an object using a non-contact chemical sensor

Abstract

Device that identifies a composition (310) of an object using a non-contact chemical sensor (100), the device comprising: at least one memory (103) containing computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: to recognize an object based on information supplied by a multitude of sensors; to control the transmission of a chemical detection signal from a non-contact chemical sensor (100) at the detected object; to identify a composition (310) of the detected object based on an attenuation of the chemical detection signal; to determine whether a path change is required, based on the identified composition (310) of the detected object; and to control one or more actuators to stop a vehicle (110) or to adjust the path of the vehicle (110) when a path change is required; further comprising the non-contact chemical sensor (100) configured to transmit the chemical detection signal, which has a millimeter wave signal; wherein the composition (310) comprises a gaseous composition (311), a solid composition (313) and a liquid composition (312); and wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to identify the composition (310) of the detected object on the basis of reflections of the chemical detection signal by comparing a profile of the reflections of the chemical detection signal with a spectral profile corresponding to the composition.

Inventors

• Vikas Vemuri
• Ashhad Mohammed
• Andrew J. Macdonald

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20200922

Priority Date

20191022

Claims (7)

1. A device that identifies the composition (310) of an object using a non-contact chemical sensor (100), the device comprising: at least one memory (103) containing computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions causing the at least one processor to: detect an object based on information supplied by a plurality of sensors; control the transmission of a chemical detection signal from a non-contact chemical sensor (100) on the detected object; identify a composition (310) of the detected object based on an attenuation of the chemical detection signal; determine whether a path change is required based on the identified composition (310) of the detected object; and controlling one or more actuators to stop a vehicle (110) or to adjust the path of the vehicle (110) when a path change is required; further comprising the non-contact chemical sensor (100) configured to transmit the chemical detection signal, which has a millimeter-wave signal; wherein the composition (310) comprises a gaseous composition (311), a solid composition (313), and a liquid composition (312); and in which the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to identify the composition (310) of the detected object based on reflections of the chemical detection signal by comparing a profile of the reflections of the chemical detection signal with a spectral profile corresponding to the composition.
2. Device according to Claim 1 , where the chemical detection signal has a signal between 30 GHz and 300 GHz.
3. Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to identify the composition (310) of the detected object on the basis of the reflections of the chemical detection signal by determining whether there is an attenuation or strength of the reflections of the chemical detection signal within a predetermined range corresponding to a composition (310).
4. Device according to Claim 1 , in which the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to determine, based on the identified composition of the detected object, whether the path change is required by determining whether an attenuation or strength of the reflections of the chemical detection signal is greater than a preset threshold.
5. Device according to Claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to control one or more actuators by applying brakes in order to stop a vehicle (110) when the required path change is a vehicle stop.
6. Device according to Claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to control one or more actuators by the processor providing an electronic power steering system that steers a vehicle (110) onto a modified path when the required path change is to drive around the identified object.
7. Device according to Claim 1 , which furthermore has a variety of sensors (107), including two or more of a LIDAR, a camera, a sonar and a radar.

Description

The description refers to the detection of objects when controlling a vehicle. In particular, the description refers to devices relating to the identification of solid objects, gases and liquids. US 9 234 618 B1 This describes a light detection and distance measuring device connected to an autonomous vehicle that scans a scan area while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The reflected signals display a three-dimensional point map of the distribution of reflective points within the scan area. A hyperspectral sensor maps a portion of the scan area corresponding to a reflective feature displayed by the three-dimensional point map. The output of the hyperspectral sensor includes spectral information characterizing the spectral distribution of the radiation received from the reflective feature. The spectral properties of the reflective feature allow for the differentiation between solid objects and non-solid reflective features, and a map of the solid objects is provided to enable real-time navigation decisions. US 6 072 173 A This describes an animal carcass detection system suitable for mounting on a vehicle, capable of easily and accurately determining the presence of an animal. Specifically, it uses electromagnetic waves to detect the distance to an object in front of the vehicle and simultaneously distinguish whether the object is an animal. The system comprises transmitting and receiving devices for emitting a radio wave with a first frequency of 10 GHz and a second frequency of 60 GHz, the latter being higher than the first, in the same direction, and for receiving reflected waves. It also includes distinguishing devices for generating material identification data that indicate whether a combination (i.e., a ratio or product) of the received levels of the reflected waves at the respective frequencies corresponds to the case where the reflecting object is an animal carcass. Furthermore, it includes a detector for determining the distance to the reflecting object based on the transmitted and received reflected waves. The system uses the differentiation result of whether the object is an animal or not, and the measured distance to this object during night driving, to control the distance between vehicles and the vehicle speed. DE 199 32 094 A1 This describes a millimeter-wave radar and at least one infrared laser radar, which are combined to predictively detect the condition of the road surface in the direction of travel of a vehicle. The echo signals from the radar sensors are combined, and the road surface condition is classified into predefined categories. By adding further categories, automatic functional monitoring of individual sensors within the device is possible. Furthermore, the vehicle's pitch angle relative to the road surface can be determined through appropriate analysis. DE 195 06 550 A1 This document describes a method and a device for determining the surface condition, particularly of highways, with regard to dryness, wetness, or icing. The surface is irradiated with a radiation source that includes an infrared component, and the reflected radiation is simultaneously measured in different wavelength ranges that characterize water and ice. At least four wavelength ranges are selected to allow the radiation to penetrate the surface sufficiently. A first and second wavelength range are selected to be only minimally affected by the absorption of water molecules, and a third and fourth wavelength range are selected to be characteristic of water and ice. The influence of the subsurface on the signals measured in the third and fourth wavelength ranges is compensated for by the information provided by the signals measured in the first and second wavelength ranges. In this way, it is possible to obtain information about the surface condition as a function of the measured signals. According to the description, a device is provided that distinguishes between a solid object and a gaseous or liquid composition using a non-contact chemical sensor. In particular, a device is provided that distinguishes between a solid object and a gaseous or liquid composition using a non-contact chemical sensor and controls a vehicle to move through the gaseous or liquid composition and stop, or to drive around a solid object. To understand the functions of the claimed device, a method is described below which includes the steps corresponding to the functions of the claimed device, which identifies an object using a non-contact chemical sensor. The method comprises detecting an object on the Based on information provided by a variety of sensors, the system transmits a chemical detection signal from a non-contact chemical sensor to the detected object, identifies the composition of the detected object based on reflections of the chemical detection signal, determines whether a path change is required based on the identified composition of the detected object, and controls