Abstract: An illustrative example method is for estimating a friction characteristic of a surface beneath a vehicle that has a plurality of wheels contacting the surface. The method includes determining a wheel speed of at least one of the wheels, determining a velocity of the at least one of the wheels separately from determining the wheel speed, determining a wheel slip of the at least one of the wheels based on the determined wheel speed and the determined velocity, and determining the friction characteristic based on the determined wheel slip. Determining the velocity separately from the wheel speed is accomplished using at least one detector that provides an output corresponding to a range rate, such as a RADAR or LIDAR detector.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that enable radar reference map generation. A high-definition (HD) map is received and one or more HD map objects within the HD map are determined. Attributes of the respective HD map objects are determined, and, for each HD map object, one or more occupancy cells of a radar occupancy grid are indicated as occupied space based on the attributes of the respective HD map object. By doing so, a radar reference map may be generated without a vehicle traversing through an area corresponding to the radar reference map.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that enable vehicle routing based on availability of radar-localization objects. A request to navigate to a destination is received, and at least two possible routes to the destination are determined. Availabilities of radar-localization objects for the possible routes are determined, and a route is selected based on the availabilities of the radar-localization objects. Furthermore, while traveling along a route, the vehicle is localized based on radar detections of radar-localization objects. A radar-localization quality of the localizing is monitored, and a determination is made that the radar-localization quality has dropped or will drop. Based on the radar-localization quality dropping, the route is modified and/or an operation of a radar module is adjusted. In this way, availabilities of radar-localization objects may be used to select an optimal route and to adjust a current navigation along a route to minimize driver takeover.

Abstract: This document describes methods and systems for vehicle localization based on radar detections. Radar localization starts with building a radar reference map. The radar reference map may be generated and updated using different techniques as described herein. Once a radar reference map is available, real-time localization may be achieved with inexpensive radar sensors and navigation systems. Using the techniques described in this document, the data from the radar sensors and the navigation systems may be processed to identify stationary localization objects, or landmarks, in the vicinity of the vehicle. Comparing the landmark data originating from the onboard sensors and systems of the vehicle with landmark data detailed in the radar reference map may generate an accurate pose of the vehicle in its environment. By using inexpensive radar systems and lower quality navigation systems, a highly accurate vehicle pose may be obtained in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that enable radar reference map generation. A radar occupancy grid is received, and radar attributes are determined from occupancy probabilities within the radar occupancy grid. Radar reference map cells are formed, and the radar attributes are used to determine Gaussians for the radar reference map cells that contain a plurality of the radar attributes. A radar reference map is then generated that includes the Gaussians determined for the radar referenced map cells that contain the plurality of radar attributes. By doing so, the generated radar reference map is accurate while being spatially efficient.

Abstract: An illustrative example method is for estimating a friction characteristic of a surface beneath a vehicle that has a plurality of wheels contacting the surface. The method includes determining a wheel speed of at least one of the wheels, determining a velocity of the at least one of the wheels separately from determining the wheel speed, determining a wheel slip of the at least one of the wheels based on the determined wheel speed and the determined velocity, and determining the friction characteristic based on the determined wheel slip. Determining the velocity separately from the wheel speed is accomplished using at least one detector that provides an output corresponding to a range rate, such as a RADAR or LIDAR detector.