Waymo LLC

Timothy Campbell

Larry Smith

Matthew Markel

Jamal Izadian

Adam S Brown

Edwin Lim

L Donnie Smith

Pierre-yves Droz

Brett Coon

Benjamin T Ingram

Russell Leight Smith

Clayton Kunz

Edward Daniel McCloskey

Filip Perich

Michael Marx

Russell Leigh Smith

Nicholas Armstrong-Crews

Kevin Duncklee

Alessandro Temil

Example embodiments relate to low elevation side lobe antennas with fan-shaped beams. An example radar unit may include a radiating plate having a first side and a second side with an illuminator, a waveguide horn, a waveguide opening, and a radiating sleeve extending into the first side of the radiating plate. The waveguide opening is positioned on the first end of the first side and the radiating sleeve is positioned on the second end of the first side. The radar unit also includes a metallic cover coupled to the first side of the radiating plate such that the metallic cover and the radiating plate form waveguide structures. The waveguide horn is configured to receive, from an external source, electromagnetic energy provided through the waveguide opening via a first waveguide and provide a portion of the electromagnetic energy to the illuminator via a second waveguide such that the portion of the electromagnetic energy radiates off the illuminator and through the radiating sleeve into an environment of the radar unit as one or more radar signals.

Low elevation sidelobe antenna with fan-shaped beam

Example embodiments relate to radar reflection filtering using a vehicle sensor system. A computing device may detect a first object in radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle and, responsive to determining that information corresponding to the first object is unavailable from other vehicle sensors, use the radar data to determine a position and a velocity for the first object relative to the radar unit. The computing device may also detect a second object aligned with a vector extending between the radar unit and the first object. Based on a geometric relationship between the vehicle, the first object, and the second object, the computing device may determine that the first object is a self-reflection of the vehicle caused at least in part by the second object and control the vehicle based on this determination.

Methods and systems for radar reflection filtering during vehicle navigation

Example embodiments relate to methods and systems for implementing radar electronic support measure operations. A vehicle's processing unit may receive information relating to electromagnetic energy radiating in an environment of the vehicle that is detected using a vehicle radar system. The electromagnetic energy originated from one or more external emitters, such as radar signals transmitted by other vehicles. The processing unit may determine a spectrum occupancy representation that indicates spectral regions occupied by the electromagnetic energy and subsequently adjust operation of the vehicle radar system based on the spectrum occupancy representation to reduce or mitigate interference with the external emitters in the vehicle's environment. In some examples, the vehicle radar system may be switched to a passive receive-only mode to measure the electromagnetic energy radiating in the environment from other emitters.

Radar interference reduction techniques for autonomous vehicles

Example embodiments relate to radar image video compression techniques using per-pixel Doppler measurements, which can involve initially receiving radar data from a radar unit to generate a radar representation that represents surfaces in the environment. Based on Doppler scores in the radar representation, a range rate can be determined for each pixel that indicates a radial direction motion for a surface represented by the pixel. The range rates and backscatter values can then be used to estimate a radar representation prediction for subsequent radar data received from the radar unit, which enables a generation of a compressed radar data file that represents the difference between the radar representation prediction and the actual representation determined for the subsequent radar data. The compressed radar data file can be stored in memory, transmitted to other devices, and decompressed and used to train models via machine learning.

Methods and systems for radar image video compression using per-pixel doppler measurements

Examples relate to near-field radar filters that can enhance measurements near a radar unit. An example may involve receiving a first set of radar reflection signals at a radar unit coupled to a vehicle and determining a filter configured to offset near-field effects of radar reflection signals received at the radar unit. In some instances, the filter depends on an azimuth angle and a distance for surfaces in the environment causing the first set of radar reflection signals. The example may also involve receiving, at the radar unit, a second set of radar reflection signals and determining, using the filter, an azimuth angle and a distance for surfaces in the environment causing the second set of radar reflection signals. The vehicle may be controlled based in part on the azimuth angle and the distance for the surfaces causing the second plurality of radar reflection signals.

Signal processing for near-field radar

In an example method, a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could have a radar system used to aid in vehicle guidance. The method could include transmitting at least two signal pulses. The method further includes, for each transmitted signal pulse, receiving a reflection signal associated with reflection of the respective transmitted signal pulse. Each reflection signal may be received when the apparatus is in a different respective location. Additionally, the method includes processing the received reflection signals to determine target information relating to one or more targets in an environment of the vehicle. Also, the method includes correlating the target information with at least one object of a predetermined map of the environment of the vehicle to provide correlated target information. Yet further, the method includes storing the correlated target information for the at least one object in an electronic database.

Radar based mapping and localization for autonomous vehicles

Example embodiments described herein involve techniques for removing transmit phase noise. A system may cause a printed circuit board (PCB) to supply a signal enabling the transmission line to couple the signal to the radar unit and the delay line to couple the signal to the quadrature coupler. The radar unit may use the signal to transmit a radar signal on a radio channel having a centered radio frequency while the quadrature coupler uses the signal to produce an output from the quadrature coupler. The system may estimate phase noise relative to the radio channel having the centered RF based on the output from the quadrature coupler, receive, from the radar unit, a radar reflection corresponding to the radar signal, and determine information representative of one or more objects in an environment based on the radar reflection and the phase noise.

Methods and systems for removing transmit phase noise

Example embodiments described herein involve determining three dimensional data representative of an environment for an autonomous vehicle using radar. An example embodiment involves receiving radar reflection signals at a radar unit coupled to a vehicle and determining an azimuth angle and a distance for surfaces in the environment causing the radar reflection signals. The embodiment further involves determining an elevation angle for the surfaces causing the radar reflection signals based on phase information of the radar reflection signals and controlling the vehicle based at least in part on the azimuth angle, the distance, and the elevation angle for the surfaces causing the plurality of radar reflection signals. In some instances, the radar unit is configured to receive radar reflection signals using a staggered linear array with one or multiple radiating elements offset in the array.

Radar based three dimensional point cloud for autonomous vehicles

A radar system includes a split-block assembly unit comprising a first portion and second portion, where the first portion and the second portion form a seam. The radar system further includes a plurality of ports located on a bottom side of the second portion opposite the seam. Additionally, the radar system includes a plurality of radiating elements located on a top side of the first portion opposite the seam. The plurality of radiating elements is arranged in a plurality of arrays. The plurality of arrays includes a set of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission arrays, a set of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) transmission arrays, and at least one reception array. Further, the radar system includes a set of waveguides configured to couple each array to a port.

Integrated MIMO and SAR radar antenna architecture

Examples relating to vehicle velocity calculation using radar technology are described. An example method performed by a computing system may involve, while a vehicle is moving on a road, receiving, from two or more radar sensors mounted at different locations on the vehicle, radar data representative of an environment of the vehicle. The method may involve, based on the data, detecting at least one scatterer in the environment. The method may involve making a determination of a likelihood that the at least one scatterer is stationary with respect to the vehicle. The method may involve, based on the determination being that the likelihood is at least equal to a predefined confidence threshold, calculating a velocity of the vehicle based on the data from the sensors. The calculated velocity may include an angular and linear velocity. Further, the method may involve controlling the vehicle based on the calculated velocity.

Calculating velocity of an autonomous vehicle using radar technology

Example embodiments described herein involve techniques for orthogonal Doppler coding for a radar system. An example method may involve causing, by a computing system coupled to a vehicle, a radar unit to transmit a plurality of radar signals into an environment of the vehicle using a two-dimensional (2D) transmission antenna array, wherein the radar unit is configured to use time division multiple access (TDMA) to isolate transmit channels along a horizontal direction of the 2D transmission antenna array and Doppler coding to isolate transmit channels along a vertical direction of the 2D transmission antenna array. The method may further involve receiving, by the computing system and from the radar unit, radar reflections corresponding to the plurality of radar signals, determining information representative of the environment based on the radar reflections, and providing control instructions to the vehicle based on the information representative of the environment.

Methods and systems for signal transmission using orthogonal doppler coding

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.

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

In another example, a method is provided that includes transmitting a first radar signal by a first channel of a plurality of channels of a radar unit. The method also includes receiving first radar reflections of the first radar signal by at least one reception antenna of the radar unit. Additionally, the method includes transmitting a second radar signal by the first channel. The method further includes receiving second radar reflections of the second radar signal by at least one reception antenna. Yet further, the method includes processing the received radar reflections from the first and second radar reflections to determine a platform movement parameter. Additionally, a virtual array may be constructed and radar signals received at common location of the virtual array may be used to determine a platform movement parameter. Moreover, the method includes operating the radar unit based on an offset determined from the platform movement parameter.

Motion compensation in radar system for autonomous vehicle

Disclosed are systems and methods that may be used for determining areas free of objects around a vehicle. The systems and methods include receiving first sensor data from a first sensor having a first field of view and a first range. The systems and methods also include receiving second sensor data from a second sensor having a second field of view and a second range. The systems and methods also include determining, by a processor, a first-sensor occlusion in the first field of view. The systems and methods further include determining, by the processor, an occlusion free-region of the first field of view based on data from the second sensor. Additionally, the systems and methods include operating, by the processor, the vehicle in an autonomous mode based on determining the occlusion free-region.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Timothy Campbell