Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for calibrating a sensor of a vehicle. One technique involves identifying a trigger for calibrating at least one sensor of a vehicle. In response to identifying the trigger, the technique then involves initiating a calibration path planning mode for the vehicle. In the calibration path planning mode, the technique involves: generating a plurality of calibration-aware paths that each include at least one calibration trajectory along at least one road; and selecting, from the plurality of paths, a first calibration-aware path for the vehicle, where the at least one sensor is calibrated while the vehicle travels along the selected path.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe techniques for operation of a vehicle based on measured load characteristics and/or passenger comfort. One or more sensors of the vehicle can measure passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle. The passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle can be used by the vehicle to determine how to navigate within the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An automatic calibration and validation pipeline is disclosed to estimate and evaluate the accuracy of extrinsic parameters of a camera-to-LiDAR coordinate transformation. In an embodiment, an automated and unsupervised calibration procedure is employed where the computed rotational and translational parameters (“extrinsic parameters”) of the camera-to-LiDAR coordinate transformation are automatically estimated and validated, and upper bounds on the accuracy of the extrinsic parameters are set. The calibration procedure combines three-dimensional (3D) plane, vector and point correspondences to determine the extrinsic parameters, and the resulting coordinate transformation is validated by analyzing the projection of a filtered point cloud including a validation target in the image space. A single camera image and LiDAR scan (a “single shot”) are used to calibrate and validate the extrinsic parameters.

Abstract: Techniques for determination of an optimal spatiotemporal sensor configuration for navigation of a vehicle include generating a model of a virtual vehicle operating in an environment. The model of the virtual vehicle includes a virtual sensor having a virtual viewing range. The virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor is segregated into frustums. The virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor corresponds to a viewing range of a sensor of a vehicle operating in the environment. A geometric viewport is generated including pixels. The geometric viewport has a height corresponding to a number of rays emitted from the virtual sensor. The geometric viewport is segregated into sections. Each section corresponds to a frustum. A virtual point cloud of the virtual sensor is rendered. The virtual point cloud includes coordinate positions representing a portion of the environment located within the virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe techniques for operation of a vehicle based on measured load characteristics and/or passenger comfort. One or more sensors of the vehicle can measure passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle. The passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle can be used by the vehicle to determine how to navigate within the surrounding environment.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe techniques for operation of a vehicle based on measured load characteristics and/or passenger comfort. One or more sensors of the vehicle can measure passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle. The passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle can be used by the vehicle to determine how to navigate within the surrounding environment.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for a universal calibration target. The universal calibration target includes a core and an outer body. The core is core associated with a first salient property. The outer body is associated with a second salient property. The first salient property and the second salient property are configured to be observed by a sensor modality, and the first salient property and the second salient property correspond to at least one sensor of a vehicle.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe systems and method for validating sensor calibration. For validating calibration of a system of sensors having several types of sensors, an object may be configured to have a substantially reflective portion such that the sensors can isolate the substantially reflective portion, and their sensor data can be compared to determine, if the detected locations of the substantially reflective portion by each sensor are aligned. For calibrating a system of sensors, an object having known calibration features can be used and detected by each sensor, and the detected data can be compared to known calibration data associated with the object to determine if each sensor is correctly calibrated.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe systems and method for validating sensor calibration. For validating calibration of a system of sensors having several types of sensors, an object may be configured to have a substantially reflective portion such that the sensors can isolate the substantially reflective portion, and their sensor data can be compared to determine, if the detected locations of the substantially reflective portion by each sensor are aligned. For calibrating a system of sensors, an object having known calibration features can be used and detected by each sensor, and the detected data can be compared to known calibration data associated with the object to determine if each sensor is correctly calibrated.

Abstract: Among other things, a method includes receiving first LiDAR point cloud information from a first LiDAR device and second LiDAR point cloud information from a second LiDAR device, generating third point cloud information according to merging the first and second LiDAR point cloud information, and operating the vehicle based upon the third LiDAR point cloud information.

Abstract: Among other things, a method includes receiving first LiDAR point cloud information from a first LiDAR device and second LiDAR point cloud information from a second LiDAR device, generating third point cloud information according to merging the first and second LiDAR point cloud information, and operating the vehicle based upon the third LiDAR point cloud information.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for calibrating a sensor of a vehicle. One technique involves identifying a trigger for calibrating at least one sensor of a vehicle. In response to identifying the trigger, the technique then involves initiating a calibration path planning mode for the vehicle. In the calibration path planning mode, the technique involves: generating a plurality of calibration-aware paths that each include at least one calibration trajectory along at least one road; and selecting, from the plurality of paths, a first calibration-aware path for the vehicle, where the at least one sensor is calibrated while the vehicle travels along the selected path.

Abstract: An automatic calibration and validation pipeline is disclosed to estimate and evaluate the accuracy of extrinsic parameters of a camera-to-LiDAR coordinate transformation. In an embodiment, an automated and unsupervised calibration procedure is employed where the computed rotational and translational parameters (“extrinsic parameters”) of the camera-to-LiDAR coordinate transformation are automatically estimated and validated, and upper bounds on the accuracy of the extrinsic parameters are set. The calibration procedure combines three-dimensional (3D) plane, vector and point correspondences to determine the extrinsic parameters, and the resulting coordinate transformation is validated by analyzing the projection of a filtered point cloud including a validation target in the image space. A single camera image and LiDAR scan (a “single shot”) are used to calibrate and validate the extrinsic parameters.

Abstract: Among other things, a method includes receiving first LiDAR point cloud information from a first LiDAR device and second LiDAR point cloud information from a second LiDAR device, generating third point cloud information according to merging the first and second LiDAR point cloud information, and operating the vehicle based upon the third LiDAR point cloud information.

Abstract: Techniques for determination of an optimal spatiotemporal sensor configuration for navigation of a vehicle include generating a model of a virtual vehicle operating in an environment. The model of the virtual vehicle includes a virtual sensor having a virtual viewing range. The virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor is segregated into frustums. The virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor corresponds to a viewing range of a sensor of a vehicle operating in the environment. A geometric viewport is generated including pixels. The geometric viewport has a height corresponding to a number of rays emitted from the virtual sensor. The geometric viewport is segregated into sections. Each section corresponds to a frustum. A virtual point cloud of the virtual sensor is rendered. The virtual point cloud includes coordinate positions representing a portion of the environment located within the virtual viewing range of the virtual sensor.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe systems and method for validating sensor calibration. For validating calibration of a system of sensors having several types of sensors, an object may be configured to have a substantially reflective portion such that the sensors can isolate the substantially reflective portion, and their sensor data can be compared to determine, if the detected locations of the substantially reflective portion by each sensor are aligned. For calibrating a system of sensors, an object having known calibration features can be used and detected by each sensor, and the detected data can be compared to known calibration data associated with the object to determine if each sensor is correctly calibrated.

Abstract: Among other things, we describe techniques for operation of a vehicle based on measured load characteristics and/or passenger comfort. One or more sensors of the vehicle can measure passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle. The passenger data and/or load data of the vehicle can be used by the vehicle to determine how to navigate within the surrounding environment.