▲ Park Jin-geun, Director of iNavi Systems (right)

2022 Automotive Tech Concert Viewer Q&A
HD Map, Map Change Detection and Automated Updates Are Important

iNavi Systems stated that technologies for map construction automation and real-time map updates are necessary to effectively implement hybrid maps.

Park Jin-geun, Director of iNavi Systems, provided answers to questions he was unable to answer due to time constraints during the presentation on "Hybrid Maps for Point-to-Point Movement Based on Designated Zones" at the 2022 e4ds Automotive Tech Concert on the 21st.

■ When producing high-precision maps, are there any interruptions related to GPS signals? If they do occur, what solutions are available?

In cases where GPS signals cannot be received, such as in tunnels, the vehicle drives without changing lanes using a lane-keeping method via vision sensors.

■ What is the latency when traffic conditions are reflected in the navigation system via real-time updates?

I believe this is a question about real-time traffic information. Although it may vary depending on the company operating the real-time traffic information, it is usually operated every 10 to 20 minutes.

■ What are the methods and processes for easy and fast point-to-point movement based on designated zones?

For P2P movement, the vehicle's movement path is rapidly predicted using an SD Map (existing navigation map), and a detailed trajectory at the lane level is generated using information from the HD Map of the corresponding path segment. This method is currently being researched by iNavi Systems, and the P2P process may vary depending on Tesla or the automaker.

■ What are the requirements for effectively implementing a hybrid map?

The key to map construction lies in ensuring up-to-dateness. To rapidly update the entire process from data collection to construction, technologies for map construction automation or real-time updates are required.

■ What are the specific solutions for the avoidance points?

Avoidance points can be classified into safe autonomous driving (potholes, construction roads, etc.) and legal avoidance sections (child protection zones, roads within the complex), and points for safe autonomous driving are elements that must be richly established through a rapid map update system and construction. It appears necessary to continuously deliberate on institutional improvements regarding legal evasion clauses through public-private consultative bodies.

■ What are the efficient measures to resolve potential problems or difficulties that may arise during the process of constructing high-precision road maps for major roads and urban areas nationwide?

HD Maps require reconstruction even if only the lane markings need to be repainted. This highlights the importance of map change detection and automated update systems. The government is striving to establish a real-time update system, and map-building companies, including the government, are conducting extensive research on automated mapping and update systems.

■ What interface or method is used to deliver the map when the machine provides it in real time

The trajectory generation and vehicle delivery for the P2P autonomous driving described above are being prepared based on a cloud server. When the vehicle requests a route change initially or while driving, the trajectory is transmitted through a cloud server.

■ What is the priority when information from vehicle-mounted sensors and maps collide during autonomous driving?

Rather than the concept of a conflict between sensor and map information, it seems that safe driving is achieved by adding real-world information provided by the sensor to the predictive information provided by the map. If we were to distinguish priorities, sensor information that makes judgments based on real-world information would likely take precedence over the map.

For example, if the trajectory provided by the map recommends driving in the second lane, the autonomous vehicle attempts to drive in the second lane as much as possible, but in the event of unexpected situations (accidents, construction) that occur while driving, it is enabled to perform evasive driving according to the situation.