Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to vehicle sensors. In some aspects, a device associated with a vehicle may obtain, from an external source, calibration data including a first set of measurements related to a position of one or more objects in a reference frame associated with the external source. The device may identify a second set of measurements related to the position of the one or more objects within a field of view of one or more onboard sensors, and update a calibration table based at least in part on a comparison of one or more of the first set of measurements and one or more of the second set of measurements that are most time-aligned. Accordingly, the device may convert sensor-derived location information from a source reference frame to a reference frame associated with the vehicle using the updated calibration table. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Various aspects may include an apparatus for radar calibration including a radar control system and a first radar antenna and a second radar antenna, one on the inside of a device housing area and the other on the outside of a device housing area. Both antennae may be mounted to the device housing area. By transmitting a signal from one antenna to the other, various aspects of the signal may be measured by the radar control system in order to determine a calibration parameter for radar calibration.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to sensor targets. In some aspects, a method may include obtaining a detection resolution of a sensor that is to detect a target on a roadway; obtaining a designated speed limit of the roadway; estimating an exposure time of the target based on the detection resolution and the designated speed limit; determining, based on the exposure time, a target dimension of the target and a quantity of surface depths of the target; generating a code for the target based on the quantity of surface depths, wherein the code corresponds to a physical configuration of the target; and storing, in a mapping associated with the sensor, the code in association with the target to permit the target to be identified by the sensor. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for measuring a reference beam and a corresponding returned beam from a target in a measurement system using a single sensor array. The system is configured such that the location of the reference beam is space apart from the location of the returned beam on the sensor array. A first set of sensor elements on the sensor array corresponding to the reference beam is dynamically activated based on a laser beam scanning control signal. The detection signal from the first set of sensor elements is used to determine a location and/or a pattern of the reference beam, which are then used to estimate a location and/or a pattern of the corresponding returned beam on the same sensor array and dynamically select and activate a second set of sensor elements on the sensor array based on the estimated location and/or pattern of the corresponding returned beam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for affecting the resolution of an optical scanning system. More specifically, a receiver of the optical scanning system includes a set of photodetectors and an optical beam directing subsystem. The optical beam directing subsystem is configured to, in each scan step of a plurality of scan steps, receive light reflected from a target region illuminated by a scanning beam and including a plurality of areas, and direct light reflected from each area of the plurality of areas to a corresponding photodetector in the set of photodetectors. Each photodetector of the set of photodetectors receives light reflected from a corresponding area of the plurality of areas to generate a detection signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing dynamically adjusted radiated signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of detecting one or more objects in a path of travel of a vehicle may include generating a laser with radiated power. The method may further include emitting the laser in a direction of travel of the vehicle and receiving one or more reflections of the emitted laser reflected from the one or more objects located in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The method may also further include generating a signal indicating that the one or more objects are in a path of the vehicle based on the received one or more reflections. The method may also include dynamically adjusting the radiated power of the laser based on an input corresponding to one or more of (i) a current speed of the vehicle or (ii) a current position of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing dynamically adjusted radiated signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of detecting one or more objects in a path of travel of a vehicle may include generating a laser with radiated power. The method may further include emitting the laser in a direction of travel of the vehicle and receiving one or more reflections of the emitted laser reflected from the one or more objects located in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The method may also further include generating a signal indicating that the one or more objects are in a path of the vehicle based on the received one or more reflections. The method may also include dynamically adjusting the radiated power of the laser based on an input corresponding to one or more of (i) a current speed of the vehicle or (ii) a current position of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for light beam scanning in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system includes a beam shaping subsystem configured to generate an illumination pattern elongated in a first direction, and a scanning subsystem configured to direct the elongated illumination pattern towards a plurality of positions along a second direction different from the first direction. The LIDAR system further includes a sensor configured to generate a detection signal in response to detecting light reflected by a target object illuminated by the elongated illumination pattern, and a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the target object based on the detection signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are related to a Lidar device, comprising: a vibrating fiber optic cantilever system on a transmit (TX) path; and a two-dimensional (2D) light sensor array on a receive (RX) path.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are related to a Lidar device, comprising: a vibrating fiber optic cantilever system on a transmit (TX) path; and a two-dimensional (2D) light sensor array on a receive (RX) path.

Abstract: A method and electronic device for selectively obtaining depth information at locations within a scene are described. Image content analysis is performed on a received image of the scene. Locations within the image to obtain depth information within the scene are determined based on the image analysis. The locations are provided to a LIDAR (light+radar) unit to selectively obtain depth information at the scene locations. The depth information is received from the LIDAR unit and a second image analysis is performed on a second image. The second image analysis is based on the image content of the second image and the received depth information. Updated locations based on the second image analysis may be provided to the LIDAR unit to obtain updated depth information.

Abstract: An example method for use with a LIDAR system includes assigning a firing time of a laser included in the LIDAR system. The assignment of the firing time includes: (i) receiving a universal clock signal at the LIDAR system, where the universal clock signal common to one or more other LIDAR systems; (ii) synchronizing a system clock of the LIDAR system to the universal clock signal to generate a synchronized clock signal; and determining the firing time based on the synchronized clock signal to reduce interference with the one or more other LIDAR systems. The method also includes firing the laser at the firing time.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a camera configured to capture an image of a scene. The electronic device also includes an image segmentation mapper configured to perform segmentation of the image based on image content to generate a plurality of image segments, each of the plurality of image segments associated with spatial coordinates indicative of a location of each segment in the scene. The electronic device further includes a memory configured to store the image and the spatial coordinates. The electronic device additionally includes a LIDAR (light+radar) unit, the LIDAR unit steerable to selectively obtain depth values corresponding to at least a subset of the spatial coordinates. The electronic device further includes a depth mapper configured to generate a depth map of the scene based on the depth values and the spatial coordinates.

Abstract: Solid-state electronic light detection and ranging (LIDAR) is disclosed. In one aspect, an electronic device for use in a LIDAR system is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements. The electronic device is configured to receive, from a laser, a beam of light. The electronic device also receives, from a controller, a series of signals that control the electrically controllable light-direction-changing elements to generate a successive series of different diffraction grating patterns configured to move at least one intensity maxima to a corresponding successive series of locations across a field of view (FOV).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for affecting the resolution of an optical scanning system. More specifically, a receiver of the optical scanning system includes a set of photodetectors and an optical beam directing subsystem. The optical beam directing subsystem is configured to, in each scan step of a plurality of scan steps, receive light reflected from a target region illuminated by a scanning beam and including a plurality of areas, and direct light reflected from each area of the plurality of areas to a corresponding photodetector in the set of photodetectors. Each photodetector of the set of photodetectors receives light reflected from a corresponding area of the plurality of areas to generate a detection signal.

Abstract: Communicating service information from one light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system to another LIDAR system is disclosed. In one aspect, a method for receiving information from a LIDAR system is provided. The method includes transmitting, by a first LIDAR system, a first light signal modulated to include a first identifier associated with the first LIDAR system into an environment. A second light signal is received from the environment. The second light signal is decoded to extract a second identifier. It is determined that the second identifier is associated with a second LIDAR system. Service information is extracted from the second light signal. An action is performed based on the service information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus includes dual beam scanners with dual beam steering. A first beam scanner in the LIDAR apparatus scans a wider area in one or more of a first plurality of scan patterns, and a second beam scanner in the LIDAR apparatus scans a narrower area in one or more of a second plurality of scan patterns different from the first plurality of scan patterns.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for multi-tier light-based ranging are presented. One example method includes determining a first operating environment; selecting a first set of laser emitters from a plurality of sets of laser emitters based on the first operating environment, the first set of laser emitters having a first angular FOV and a first effective range; detecting one or more objects within the first angular FOV based on detected reflected laser light; determining a second operating environment different from the first operating environment; selecting a second set of laser emitters from the plurality of sets of laser emitters based on the second operating environment, the second set of laser emitters having a second angular FOV narrower than the first angular FOV and a second effective range greater than the first effective range; and detecting one or more objects within the second angular FOV based on detected reflected laser light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for light beam scanning in a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system includes a beam shaping subsystem configured to generate an illumination pattern elongated in a first direction, and a scanning subsystem configured to direct the elongated illumination pattern towards a plurality of positions along a second direction different from the first direction. The LIDAR system further includes a sensor configured to generate a detection signal in response to detecting light reflected by a target object illuminated by the elongated illumination pattern, and a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the target object based on the detection signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing dynamically adjusted radiated signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of detecting one or more objects in a path of travel of a vehicle may include generating a laser with radiated power. The method may further include emitting the laser in a direction of travel of the vehicle and receiving one or more reflections of the emitted laser reflected from the one or more objects located in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The method may also further include generating a signal indicating that the one or more objects are in a path of the vehicle based on the received one or more reflections. The method may also include dynamically adjusting the radiated power of the laser based on an input corresponding to one or more of (i) a current speed of the vehicle or (ii) a current position of the vehicle.