KAN-RCBEVDepth: A multi-modal fusion algorithm in object detection for autonomous driving

Accurate 3D object detection in autonomous driving is critical yet challenging due to occlusions, varying object scales, and complex urban environments. This paper introduces the RCBEV-KAN algorithm, a pioneering method designed to enhance 3D object detection by fusing multimodal sensor data from cameras, LiDAR, and millimeter-wave radar. Our innovative Bird's Eye View (BEV)-based approach, utilizing a Transformer architecture, significantly boosts detection precision and efficiency by seamlessly integrating diverse data sources, improving spatial relationship handling, and optimizing computational processes. Experimental results show that the RCBEV-KAN model demonstrates superior performance across most detection categories, achieving higher Mean Distance AP (0.389 vs. 0.316, a 23% improvement), better ND Score (0.484 vs. 0.415, a 17% improvement), and faster Evaluation Time (71.28s, 8% faster). These results indicate that RCBEV-KAN is more accurate, reliable, and efficient, making it ideal for dynamic and challenging autonomous driving environments.