Dynamic vibration measurements are critical in many applications, from military to automotive/trucks and machinery, as well as critical manufacturing sites, such as semiconductor wafer fabrication (fabs), and even to detect/monitor seismic events. Piezoelectric accelerometers are one of the sensor types frequently used for these measurements. Parameters for specifying piezoelectric accelerometers include response type (AC or […]
What are the latest advances in radar and LiDAR technologies for sensor fusion: part 3
In addition to improved performance from individual sensing technologies, including radar and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), other ongoing advances for sensor fusion are required for more complex advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and to achieve the highest levels of autonomous driving (AD). Future trends in other technologies for sensor fusion Ongoing advances to improve sensor […]
What are the latest advances in radar and LiDAR technologies for sensor fusion: part 2
In contrast to the widespread use of radar sensing, automotive applications for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors are much more limited. This is due in part to their bulky size (especially electromechanical LiDAR) and high cost. Similar to radar designs, except that LiDAR uses lasers instead of radio waves for detection and ranging, it […]
What are the latest advances in radar and LiDAR technologies for sensor fusion: part 1
Through sensor fusion, the combined benefits of radar and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensing are being implemented in each new generation of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Improvements in these sensing technologies will provide improved performance for future applications. However, they will also require advancements in cameras and other system aspects, including inertial measurement […]
How can designers evaluate and benchmark sensor fusion systems for autonomous machines?
It is always good to remember or be reminded that “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it,” as Lord Kelvin observed. This is certainly true for today’s newest design approaches, such as sensor fusion. For safety-critical and highly regulated situations such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD), key performance […]
What are the key considerations for integrating lidar and radar data for robust perception: part 2
Practical techniques for improving sensor fusion accuracy In addition to the usual design techniques for improving sensor performance such as (1) calibration to correct errors including multi-point calibration for higher accuracy, and regular recalibration to correct for drift over time; (2) signal conditioning to correct for errors like offset and linearity, amplified signals for improved signal-to-noise […]
Key Considerations for integrating LiDAR and radar data for robust perception: part 1
For autonomous vehicle (AV) applications, both radar and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) are often used in addition to high-definition cameras and other sensors. The proper fusion of the output from these devices enables the detection of obstacles, identification of lane markings, and the accurate recognition of other vehicles and pedestrians. The radio waves (typically […]
Are additional sensors needed for Waymos?
When well over 1” of rain fell rather quickly in various parts of Phoenix recently, areas prone to flooding accumulated much more. As one of the highest amounts of rain to fall within the past seven years, it provided a new scenario to Waymo robotaxis. Several of the driverless vehicles confronted “Do Not Enter When […]
How to implement multi-sensor fusion algorithms for autonomous vehicles
To achieve autonomous vehicle (AV) operation, sensing techniques include radar, LiDAR, and cameras, as well as infrared (IR) and/or ultrasonic sensors, among others. No single sensing technique is adequate by itself, and each of these sensors has its strengths and weaknesses. As shown in Table 1, one or more sensing techniques overcome the weaknesses of […]
The power of sensor fusion
Industrial machines have long relied on a variety of sensors to execute their targeted mission and obtain the desired performance and reliability. Sensor fusion provides a more comprehensive approach to achieving these results and makes the appropriate decision(s) in these and other applications, as well as offering other benefits. Actually, a subcategory of data fusion, […]
