Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a methods and systems for compensating for changes in the absolute position of locations with respect to the Earth's surface which occur over time due to crustal dynamics. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with such compensation in the context of methods using digital map data, for example, methods of localization of a vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided of training a generative adversarial network for performing semantic segmentation of images. The generative adversarial network includes a generator neural network and a discriminator neural network. The method includes providing an image as input to the generator neural network, receiving a predicted segmentation map for the image from the generator neural network, providing i) the image, ii) the predicted segmentation map, and iii) ground-truth label data corresponding to the image, as distinct training inputs to the discriminator neural network, determining a set of one or more outputs from the discriminator neural network in response to said training inputs, and training the generator neural network using a loss function that is a function of said set of outputs from the discriminator neural network.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a geographical location and orientation of a vehicle travelling through a road network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from one or more cameras associated with the vehicle travelling through the road network, a sequence of images reflecting the environment of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, wherein each of the images has an associated camera location at which the image was recorded. A local map representation representing an area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling is then generated using at least some of the obtained images and the associated camera locations. The generated local map representation is compared with a section of a reference map, the reference map section covering the area of the road network on which the vehicle is travelling, and the geographical location and orientation of the vehicle within the road network is determined based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a geographical location and orientation of a vehicle (200, 300) travelling through a road network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, from one or more cameras (202, 302) associated with the vehicle (200, 300) travelling through the road network, a sequence of images (500) reflecting the environment of the road network on which the vehicle (200, 300) is travelling, wherein each of the images has an associated camera location at which the image was recorded. A local map representation representing an area of the road network on which the vehicle (200, 300) is travelling is then generated using at least some of the obtained images and the associated camera locations.

Abstract: A device is provided to extract scan lines data from images of a route, said scan line data comprising only a portion of the an image that extends along a scan line, and to store this data in memory together with respective positional data pertaining to the position of the device traveling along the route in a navigable network. This scan line and positional data can be obtained from a plurality of devices in a network and transmitted to computing apparatus, for example, for use in a production of a realistic view of a digital map.

Abstract: A computerised method of creating map data from position data derived from the positions (606) of at least one vehicle over a period of time, the map data comprising a plurality of navigable segments representing segments (602,604) of a navigable route (607) in the area covered by the map and the map data also comprising intersections between navigable segments (602,604) representing intersections in the navigable route, the method comprising using a processing circuitry to perform the following steps: i. processing the position data; ii. calculating from the processing of the position data a transit time or set of transit times for at least some of the intersections in the map data; and iii generating further map data, which for at least some of the intersections therein, contains the calculated transit time or set of transit times associated with the intersection for which the calculation was made.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.

Abstract: Methods and systems for classifying data points of a point cloud indicative of the environment around a vehicle by using features of a digital map relating to a deemed current position of the vehicle. Such methods and systems can be used to detect road actors, such as other vehicles, around a vehicle capable of sensing its environment as a point cloud; preferably used by highly and fully automated driving applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved positioning accuracy relative to a digital map are disclosed, and which are preferably used for highly and fully automated driving applications, and which may use localisation reference data associated with a digital map. A vehicle localization is obtained by comparing real time depth map acquired by a sensor associated to the vehicle to a depth map associated to a digital map. The depth maps are indicative of an environment around the vehicle. Longitudinal and lateral offsets of the vehicle with respect to the digital map are determined. The invention further extends to methods and systems for the generation of localisation reference data associated with a digital map.

Abstract: A method of detecting the closure of a navigable element forming part of a network of navigable elements within a geographic area. A server obtains positional data relating to the movement of a plurality of devices along the navigable element with respect to time. The positional data is used to determine an elapsed time since a device was last detected on the navigable element, and the determined elapsed time is compared to an expected time interval between consecutive devices being detected on the navigable element. The navigable element is identified as being potentially closed, subject to one or more optional validation steps, when the determined elapsed time exceeds the expected time interval, e.g. by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device is provided to extract scan lines data from images of a route, said scan line data comprising only a portion of the an image that extends along a scan line, and to store this data in memory together with respective positional data pertaining to the position of the device traveling along the route in a navigable network. This scan line and positional data can be obtained from a plurality of devices in a network and transmitted to computing apparatus, for example, for use in a production of a realistic view of a digital map.

Abstract: A method of operating a controller of a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) is disclosed, comprising: providing first output control signals configured to cause a vehicular head up display (HUD) to present first content to a vehicle operator; and providing second output control signals configured to cause a vehicular digital cluster display (DCD) to present second content to the vehicle operator, different to the first content. The method can further comprise the receiving input control signals from a touch sensitive steering wheel, for interacting with the information presented on the HUD and/or DUD. A related apparatus, vehicular HMI and computer software, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method for matching traces derived from probe data to one or more line segments in a digital vector map. Points in a probe trace are provisionally matched one-by-one to line segments in the digital vector map to identify all possible matching candidates. A graph of the matching candidates is created having one or more paths. The graph has a plurality of sequential levels corresponding to the points in the probe trace. Each matching candidate is assigned to a level of the graph corresponding with trace point to which it relates. Edges are established between matching candidates in adjacent levels provided they are topologically related to one another. The graph is simplified and scored. The best paths deliver the matching results. The invention allows use of graph theoretic methods to find the best path through the graph, which in turn represents an efficient map matching algorithm. The concepts of this invention may be used in conjunction with longitudinal distance as matching criterion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of obtaining and storing data relating to a count of journeys made between origin and destination pairs in respect of different predetermined time periods. Positional data is received from vehicles, and filtered to obtain positional data relating to travel between each of a plurality of origin-destination pairs. The filtered positional data is analysed to obtain multiple sets of profiles. Each set of profiles represents a count of journeys made between the origin and destination in a plurality of predetermined time periods for each origin-destination pair. The different sets of profiles relate to different days of the week, and journeys having arrival or departure times in the predetermined time periods. The sets of profiles are used in a clustering operation to provide a reduced set of standard profiles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of determining speed information, comprising receiving traffic monitoring information navigation devices (610), wherein the traffic monitoring information includes identification information identifying a mobile device (630), location information indicating a geographic locations (910, 920) at which the identification information was received from the mobile device (630), and temporal information indicating times at which the identification information was received, and determining speed information associated with the mobile device from the traffic monitoring information.

Abstract: A method of determining a longitudinal position of a vehicle (100) relative to a digital map is disclosed in which real time scan data (200, 202) is determined by scanning a lateral environment around the vehicle using at least one range-finder sensor, said real time scan data comprising one or more depth maps, each depth map representing the measured lateral distance to surfaces in the lateral environment for a plurality of longitudinal positions and elevations. Localization reference data associated with the digital map for a deemed current longitudinal position of the vehicle (100) in relation to the digital map is retrieved, and compared to the real time scan data (200, 202) by calculating a cross-correlation to determine a longitudinal offset. The deemed current longitudinal position is adjusted based on said longitudinal offset to determine the longitudinal position of the vehicle (100) relative to the digital map.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining algorithmically a a plurality of vehicle cost values for traveling a plurality of road segments in a vehicle based at least in part on vehicle cost data derived at least in part from position derivative data obtained from at least one vehicle that traveled the road segments (S1); associating each of the plurality of road segments with at least one of the vehicle cost values (S2); and storing the determined vehicle cost values in a memory device (S3). In at least one embodiment, a method for determining a route of travel from a first location to a second location is disclosed. Other embodiments include a map database, storable on a storage medium; a device including a memory (230) storing a map database, a processor (210) and an output device (260); and a device for use in a vehicle, where the device includes a GPS receiver (250), a memory (230) and a processor (210).

Abstract: Probe data collected at times of low traffic density is analyzed to derive a Raw Road Design Speed Limit (RRDSL, 16) for each road segment or group of segments in a digital map. The RRDSL (16), comprised of longitudinally distributed speeds, is associated with the road segment and stored in a digital medium to indicate the limits of the road section in free flow traffic. The longitudinally distributed speeds may be limited by local speed limits or other business logic to establish a Legal Raw Road Design Speed Limit (LRRDSL, 17). Either the RRDSL (16) or the LRRDSL (17) can be further modified to smooth acceleration and deceleration rates between changes in the longitudinally distributed speeds to create an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (OLSP, 18), which represents optimized energy consumption. A signal can be produced if a driver's current speed rises unacceptably above a longitudinally distributed speed in real time. The signal can be audible, visible and/or haptic.