Method and system for video-based road characterization, lane detection and departure prevention

Abstract

A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 897,082, filed Jan. 23, 2007, incorporated herein by reference. This application further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 897,225, filed Jan. 23, 2007, incorporated herein by reference. This application further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 897,219, filed Jan. 23, 2007, incorporated herein by reference. This application further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 897,220, filed Jan. 23, 2007, incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to image processing methods and systems for roadway scenes, for use in vehicles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Images from a video camera installed on a vehicle are used in certain conventional ap...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables real-time detection and characterization of road markings and boundaries, improving vehicle guidance by accurately determining vehicle position relative to road markings and providing timely warnings for lane departure prevention.

Problems solved by technology

However, such approaches cannot detect sparsely spaced, white, domed, discs called Botts' dots.

Other conventional approaches are limited to determining the camera distance and yaw angle to lane markings and their curvature.

Such approaches cannot detect delineations and objects other than the lane markings, and are limited to finding a pair of lane markings, one to the left of the vehicle and one to the right.

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