Clustering of distance sensors to transfer training data for relative position and orientation measurement devices

Abstract

Car-sharing services have recently attracted considerable attention. We proposed a platooning system to reduce the number of vehicle distributors. The platooning system uses a measurement device embedded with low-cost infrared distance sensors to measure the relative position and orientation of vehicles. The relative positions and orientations are obtained from the training data. However, preparing training data is time consuming. In this study, a sensor clustering method that selects sensors with similar output characteristics is proposed. Consequently, a set of training data are used repetitively for all relative positions and orientation measurement devices embedded with sensors with similar output characteristics. The verification experiment of the sensor clustering revealed that the calculation range restriction is the key technique. Platooning has been successful in various courses by using sensors with similar output characteristics. Based on the results, the proposed clustering method can effectively collect sensors with similar output characteristics and it realizes the training data transfer to the newly manufactured devices. In addition, it has the potential to improve production efficiency for the mass production of relative position and orientation measurement devices.