IP Library Granted Patent US 12,516,955
Granted Patent B2
US 12,516,955 · App. 18/072,148 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

System and method for generating a semantic map for a road

Inventor: Alexander Christoph Schaefer (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Woven By Toyota, Inc.
G01C21/3822
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,516,955
App. No.
18/072,148
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to generating a semantic map for a road segment. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data related to a road segment, generating an orthogonal axis related to the road segment, and projecting the sensor data onto the orthogonal axis. The method includes generating a range of weighting functions based on potential characteristics of the road segment and determining a plurality of scores based on applying the range of weighting functions to the sensor data along the orthogonal axis. The method includes selecting one weighting function from the range of weighting functions based on one score of the plurality of scores, where the one score is a highest score. The method includes determining characteristics of the road segment based on the selected weighting function.

Claims (66)

1 . A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive sensor data related to a road segment, the sensor data including trace points and key points and the road segment being a portion of a road;

aggregate the sensor data into a common reference system such that relationships between the trace points and the key points are consistent;

generate an orthogonal axis related to the road segment;

project the sensor data onto the orthogonal axis;

generate a range of weighting functions based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with the road and based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with a second road segment, the second road segment neighboring the road segment;

determine a plurality of scores based on applying the range of weighting functions to the sensor data along the orthogonal axis;

select a subset of weighting functions from the range of weighting functions based on one score of the plurality of scores, the one score being a highest score; and

determine characteristics of the road segment based on the subset of weighting functions, the characteristics of the road segment including a width of one or more lanes in the road segment.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the road segment include at least one of:

number of lanes in the road segment;

a position of one or more lane markings on the road segment; or

a position of one or more boundaries of the road segment.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is generated from a plurality of vehicle sensors.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

divide the road into a plurality of road segments based on a curve of the road, wherein the plurality of road segments includes the road segment.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate the range of weighting functions based on historical information.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate the range of weighting functions based on characteristics of an environment of the road segment.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate the range of weighting functions based on characteristics of a neighboring road segment.

8 . A method comprising:

receiving sensor data related to a road segment, the sensor data including trace points and key points and the road segment being a portion of a road;

aggregating the sensor data into a common reference system such that relationships between the trace points and the key points are consistent;

generating an orthogonal axis related to the road segment;

projecting the sensor data onto the orthogonal axis;

generating a range of weighting functions based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with the road and based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with a second road segment, the second road segment neighboring the road segment;

determining a plurality of scores based on applying the range of weighting functions to the sensor data along the orthogonal axis;

selecting a subset of weighting functions from the range of weighting functions based on one score of the plurality of scores, the one score being a highest score; and

determining characteristics of the road segment based on the subset of weighting functions, the characteristics of the road segment including a width of one or more lanes in the road segment.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the characteristics of the road segment include at least one of:

number of lanes in the road segment;

a position of one or more lane markings on the road segment; or

a position of one or more boundaries of the road segment.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensor data is generated from a plurality of vehicle sensors.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

dividing the road into a plurality of road segments based on a curve of the road, wherein the plurality of road segments includes the road segment.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating the range of weighting functions based on historical information.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating the range of weighting functions based on characteristics of an environment of the road segment.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating the range of weighting functions based on characteristics of a neighboring road segment.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

receive sensor data related to a road segment, the sensor data including trace points and key points and the road segment being a portion of a road;

aggregate the sensor data into a common reference system such that relationships between the trace points and the key points are consistent;

generate an orthogonal axis related to the road segment;

project the sensor data onto the orthogonal axis;

generate a range of weighting functions based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with the road and based on lane number-lane width configurations associated with a second road segment, the second road segment neighboring the road segment;

determine a plurality of scores based on applying the range of weighting functions to the sensor data along the orthogonal axis;

select a subset of weighting functions from the range of weighting functions based on one score of the plurality of scores, the one score being a highest score; and

determine characteristics of the road segment based on the subset of weighting functions, the characteristics of the road segment including a width of one or more lanes in the road segment.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the characteristics of the road segment include at least one of:

number of lanes in the road segment;

a position of one or more lane markings on the road segment; or

a position of one or more boundaries of the road segment.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the sensor data is generated from a plurality of vehicle sensors.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

divide the road into a plurality of road segments based on a curve of the road, wherein the plurality of road segments includes the road segment.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate the range of weighting functions based on historical information.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

generate the range of weighting functions based on characteristics of a neighboring road segment.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: WOVEN ALPHA, INC.; WOVEN BY TOYOTA, INC.
To: WOVEN BY TOYOTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 064044/0373 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2022
From: SCHAEFER, ALEXANDER CHRISTOPH
To: WOVEN ALPHA, INC.
Reel/Frame 062246/0222 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240175705A1 · May 30, 2024
References Cited (6)
US 9310214B1 · Tzamaloukas · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20200133294A1 · Viswanathan · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210331671A1 · Kumano · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220250639A1 · Ariannezhad · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 106802954A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
Guo et al. “Automatic Lane-level Map Generation for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems using Low-cost Sensors”, 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2014, pp. 3975-3982. [cited by applicant]