Rear Vehicle Tracking on a Bicycle Using Active Sensor Orientation Control

Abstract

This paper focuses on the development of an active sensing system for a bicycle to accurately detect and track rear vehicles. A collision detection sensor on a bicycle is required to be inexpensive, small, and lightweight. A single beam laser sensor that meets these constraints is mounted on a rotationally controlled platform for this sensing mission. The rotational orientation of the laser sensor needs to be actively controlled in real time in order to continue to focus on a rear vehicle, as the vehicle’s lateral and longitudinal distances change. This tracking problem requires controlling the real-time angular position of the laser sensor without knowing the future trajectory of the vehicle. The challenge is addressed using a novel receding horizon framework for active control and an interacting multiple model framework for estimation. The features and benefits of this active sensing system are shown first using simulation results. Then, extensive experimental results are presented using an instrumented bicycle to show the performance of the system in detecting and tracking rear vehicles during both straight and turning maneuvers.