Systems and methods for autonomous vehicle control using depolarization ratio of return signal

1. A light detection and ranging (lidar) system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source;

a receiver configured to receive a return signal reflected by an object;

one or more optics configured to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization; and

a processor configured to calculate a ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal by calculating a ratio between an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an average SNR value of the second polarized signal.

2. The lidar system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more optics comprise:

a polarization beam splitter (PBS) configured to

polarize the return signal with the first polarization to generate the first polarized signal, and

polarize the return signal with the second polarization to generate the second polarized signal;

a first detector configured to detect the first polarized signal; and

a second detector configured to detect the second polarized signal.

3. The lidar system as recited in claim 2 , further comprising:

a phase shifter configured to shift a phase of the second polarized signal, wherein the first and second detectors are a single detector configured to:

detect the first polarized signal, and

detect the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

4. The lidar system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are a single transceiver.

5. An autonomous vehicle control system comprising one or more processors,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

cause a transmitter to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source;

cause a receiver to receive a return signal reflected by an object;

cause one or more optics to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization;

calculate a ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal by calculating a ratio between an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an average SNR value of the second polarized signal; and

operate a vehicle based on the ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

6. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause a polarization beam splitter (PBS) of the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the first polarization to generate the first polarized signal;

cause the PBS to polarize the return signal with the second polarization to generate the second polarized signal;

cause a first detector of the one or more optics to detect the first polarized signal; and

cause a second detector of the one or more optics to detect the second polarized signal.

7. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first and second detectors are a single detector, and

the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause a phase shifter to shift a phase of the second polarized signal; and

cause the single detector to detect the first polarized signal, and to detect the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

8. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are a single transceiver.

9. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 5 , wherein

the first polarized signal indicates a first image of the object with the first polarization, and the second polarized signal indicates a second image of the object with the second polarization, and

the one or more processors are further configured to:

calculate the ratio of reflectivity by calculating a ratio between an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first image and an average SNR value of the second image;

determine a type of the object based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity; and

control a trajectory of the vehicle based on the type of the object.

10. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one of asphalt road, lane markings, rough concrete road, grass, or gravel; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, that the object is an asphalt road.

11. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one of metal poles, trees, or utility poles; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, that the object is a metal pole.

12. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one or more persons; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, respective regions of skin and clothes of the one or more persons.

13. A autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a light detection and ranging (lidar) system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a transmit signal from a laser source,

a receiver configured to receive a return signal reflected by an object, and

one or more optics configured to generate a first polarized signal of the return signal with a first polarization, and generate a second polarized signal of the return signal with a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization;

at least one of a steering system or a braking system; and

a vehicle controller comprising one or more processors configured to:

calculate a ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal by calculating a ratio between an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first polarized signal and an average SNR value of the second polarized signal; and

control operation of the at least one of the steering system or the braking system based on the ratio of reflectivity between the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

14. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause a polarization beam splitter (PBS) of the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the first polarization to generate the first polarized signal;

cause the PBS to polarize the return signal with the second polarization to generate the second polarized signal;

cause a first detector of the one or more optics to detect the first polarized signal; and

cause a second detector of the one or more optics to detect the second polarized signal.

15. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 14 , wherein

the first and second detectors are a single detector, and

the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause a phase shifter to shift a phase of the second polarized signal; and

cause the single detector to detect the first polarized signal, and to detect the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

16. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are a single transceiver.

17. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein

the first polarized signal indicates a first image of the object with the first polarization, and the second polarized signal indicates a second image of the object with the second polarization, and

the one or more processors are further configured to:

calculate the ratio of reflectivity by calculating a ratio between an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first image and an average SNR value of the second image;

determine a type of the object based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity; and

control a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle based on the type of the object.

18. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one of asphalt road, lane markings, rough concrete road, grass, or gravel; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, that the object is an asphalt road.

19. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one of metal poles, trees, or utility poles; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, that the object is a metal pole.

20. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine the type of the object as one or more persons; and

determine, based on the calculated ratio of reflectivity, respective regions of skin and clothes of the one or more persons.