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, 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

a processor configured to (i) calculate a value of reflectivity based on a ratio of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first image and an SNR value of the second image and (ii) provide the value of reflectivity to a vehicle such that the vehicle can be operated based on the value of reflectivity.

2. The lidar system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the one or more optics are further configured to:

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

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

detect the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

3. The lidar system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the one or more optics are further configured to:

shift a phase of the second polarized signal, and

detect the second polarized signal by detecting the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

4. The lidar system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate the value of reflectivity by calculating a ratio between an average SNR value of the first polarized signal and an average SNR value of the second polarized signal.

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, 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;

calculate a value of reflectivity based on a ratio of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first image and an SNR value of the second image; and

operate a vehicle based on the value of reflectivity.

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

cause the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the first polarization to generate the first polarized signal;

cause the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the second polarization to generate the second polarized signal;

cause the one or more optics to detect the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

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

cause the one or more optics to shift a phase of the second polarized signal; and

cause the one or more optics to detect the second polarized signal by detecting the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

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

determine one or more features of the object based on the calculated value of reflectivity; and

control a trajectory of the vehicle based on the one or more features of the object.

9. The autonomous vehicle control system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the one or more features of the object include a type of 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 value 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 value 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 value 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, 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;

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

a vehicle controller comprising one or more processors configured to:

calculate a value of reflectivity based on a ratio of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of the first image and an SNR value of the second image; and

control operation of the at least one of the steering system or the braking system based on the value of reflectivity.

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

cause the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the first polarization to generate the first polarized signal;

cause the one or more optics to polarize the return signal with the second polarization to generate the second polarized signal;

cause the one or more optics to detect the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal.

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

cause the one or more optics to shift a phase of the second polarized signal; and

cause the one or more optics to detect the second polarized signal by detecting the phase-shifted second polarized signal.

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

determine one or more features of the object based on the calculated value of reflectivity; and

control a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more features of the object.

17. The autonomous vehicle as recited in claim 16 , wherein the one or more features of the object include a type of 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 value 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 value 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 value of reflectivity, respective regions of skin and clothes of the one or more persons.