Patent ID: 9097800
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: scanning a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device associated with an autonomous vehicle through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses; determining a three-dimensional (3-D) point map of the scanning zone based on time delays between emitting the light pulses and receiving corresponding returning reflected signals and based on orientations of the LIDAR device while emitting the light pulses; scanning, with a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) device associated with the autonomous vehicle, one or more regions of the scanning zone corresponding to one or more light-reflective features indicated by the 3-D point map, to identify one or more radio-reflective features; determining a temporal offset between the scanning with the LIDAR device and the scanning with the RADAR device; associating the one or more radio-reflective features with respective positions in the 3-D point map so as to account for a spatial displacement of the one or more radio-reflective features with respect to the 3-D point map during the temporal offset; determining whether the one or more light-reflective features include a solid material by, for each of the one or more light-reflective features: controlling the autonomous vehicle to avoid light-reflective features determined to include a solid material.