System and method for post-accident vehicle sensor testing
A system and method performed by a sensor testing apparatus of a vehicle are provided for determining when certain event conditions are true. The event conditions comprise detecting an occurrence of a predefined event that impacts a sensor of the vehicle. After the predefined event is detected, a test is performed to determine whether the sensor is outputting sensor values within sensor specification values. When the event conditions are true, the method includes testing the sensor relative to a reference to determine when the sensor is operating within reference criteria to produce a positive reference testing result. When the reference testing result is positive, the method directs the vehicle to return to normal operation, and otherwise directs the vehicle to be serviced.
1. A sensor testing apparatus of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor testing system processor to:
determine when event conditions are true that comprise:
an occurrence of a predefined event is detected that impacts a sensor of the vehicle, wherein the impact is a physical impact that is detected by an accelerometer and is greater than a threshold force; and
after the predefined event is detected, the sensor outputs sensor values within sensor specification values; and
when the event conditions are true, test the sensor relative to a reference to determine when the sensor operates within reference criteria to produce a positive reference testing result, wherein the reference is obtained from a second sensor of a similar type to the sensor, the second sensor configured to capture, detect, or produce substantially the same data as the sensor under test for the reference;
when the reference testing result is positive, direct the vehicle to return to normal operation, and otherwise direct the vehicle to be serviced.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a further event condition is that the sensor has operated within sensor operational specification values during the predefined event.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
when the sensor has operated outside of the sensor operational specification, the sensor testing processor is to decommission the sensor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor, for the test of the sensor relative to a reference, is to:
receive sensor information from a user device sensor of a device from a user, wherein the user device sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determine when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the user device sensor.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor, for the test of the sensor relative to a reference, is to:
receive sensor information from a different location sensor in a different location on the vehicle, wherein the different location sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determine when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the different location sensor.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor, for the test of the sensor relative to a reference, is to:
receive sensor information from an other vehicle sensor of an other vehicle located proximate the vehicle, wherein the other vehicle sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determine when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the other vehicle sensor.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor, for the test of the sensor relative to a reference, is to:
receive sensor information from a landmark captured after the predefined event is detected; and
determine when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of information received from the landmark captured before the predefined event is detected.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least one of: a red-blue-green (RBG) camera, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMs), a pressure sensor, 2D camera, a 3D camera, an infra-red (IR) camera, a depth camera, a microphone, a thermometer, a proximity sensor, a location sensor, ultrasonic sensor, radio detection and ranging (RADAR), radio receiver, capacitance sensor, or a global positioning system (GPS) sensor.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor is operable for determination of the occurrence of the predefined event is to detect an acceleration value from a heavy-duty accelerometer, motion, or pressure sensor whose normal operating specifications are within a vehicle crash range of acceleration.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor is further to:
determine, according to a predefined critical sensor criteria, when the sensor is a critical sensor as a first critical sensor condition, and when the reference testing result is negative as a second critical sensor condition; and
when the first and second critical sensor conditions are both true, direct the vehicle to be in a not-drivable state and to remain at its current location.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor is further to: collect and store landmark data prior to the occurrence of the predefined event.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor is further to:
contact an assist vehicle to assist in driving to a service location; and
utilize information from an assisting sensor of the assist vehicle when the vehicle has been directed to be serviced.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor testing processor is further to:
receive the operational specification values from an external source.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the external source is a networked cloud-based sensor testing processor, edge node, or remote server.
15. A method performed by a sensor testing apparatus of a vehicle comprising:
a sensor testing processor; and
a memory coupled to the sensor testing processor, the method comprising:
determining when event conditions are true that comprise:
an occurrence of a predefined event is detected that impacts a sensor of the vehicle, wherein the impact is a physical impact that is detected by an accelerometer and is greater than a threshold force; and
after the predefined event is detected, the sensor is outputting sensor values within sensor specification values; and
when the event conditions are true, testing the sensor relative to a reference to determine when the sensor is operating within reference criteria to produce a positive reference testing result, wherein the reference is obtained from a second sensor of a similar type to the sensor, the second sensor configured to capture, detect, or produce substantially the same data as the sensor under test for the reference;
when the reference testing result is positive, directing the vehicle to return to normal operation, and otherwise directing the vehicle to be serviced.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a further event condition is that the sensor has operated within sensor operational specification values during the predefined event.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
when the sensor has operated outside of the sensor operational specification, decommissioning the sensor.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the testing of the sensor relative to a reference comprises:
receiving sensor information from a user device sensor of a device from a user, wherein the user device sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determining when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the user device sensor.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the testing of the sensor relative to a reference comprises:
receiving sensor information from a different location sensor in a different location on the vehicle, wherein the different location sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determining when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the different location sensor.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the testing of the sensor relative to a reference comprises:
receiving sensor information from an other vehicle sensor of an other vehicle located proximate the vehicle, wherein the other vehicle sensor is a similar type to the sensor; and
determining when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of the information received from the other vehicle sensor.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the testing of the sensor relative to a reference comprises:
receiving sensor information from a landmark captured after the predefined event is detected; and
determining when information received from the sensor is within a predefined range of information received from the landmark captured before the predefined event is detected.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is at least one of: a red-blue-green (RBG) camera, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMs), a pressure sensor, 2D camera, a 3D camera, an infra-red (IR) camera, a depth camera, a microphone, a thermometer, a proximity sensor, a location sensor, ultrasonic sensor, radio detection and ranging (RADAR), radio receiver, capacitance sensor, or a global positioning system (GPS) sensor.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining of the occurrence of the predefined event comprises detecting an acceleration value from a heavy-duty accelerometer, motion, or pressure sensor whose normal operating specifications are within a vehicle crash range of acceleration.
24. At least one non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a sensor testing processor of a sensor testing apparatus, cause the sensor testing processor to:
determine when event conditions are true that comprise:
an occurrence of a predefined event is detected that impacts a sensor of the vehicle, wherein the impact is a physical impact that is detected by an accelerometer and is greater than a threshold force; and
after the predefined event is detected, the sensor outputs sensor values within sensor specification values; and
when the event conditions are true, test the sensor relative to a reference to determine when the sensor operates within reference criteria to produce a positive reference testing result, wherein the reference is obtained from a second sensor of a similar type to the sensor, the second sensor configured to capture, detect, or produce substantially the same data as the sensor under test for the reference;
when the reference testing result is positive, direct the vehicle to return to normal operation, and otherwise direct the vehicle to be serviced.
25. The medium of claim 24 , wherein a further event condition is that the sensor has operated within sensor operational specification values during the predefined event.