Articulated Vehicle Rear-View Image Stitching Without Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems for vehicles with articulated couplings struggle to effectively combine images from towed and towing vehicle cameras, leading to obscured regions and overlapping views that hinder rear visibility and image clarity.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that determines an obscuration region in the towing vehicle's field of view obscured by the towed vehicle and selects a corresponding area of interest from the towed vehicle's image data to generate a composite image, minimizing concealed and overlapping regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If images from both towing vehicle and towed vehicle cameras are combined to provide comprehensive rear visibility, then the coverage area is improved, but obscured regions and overlapping views increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the rear scene into multiple zones: a first zone captured by the towing vehicle camera, a second zone captured by the towed vehicle camera, and identifies an overlap zone where both cameras capture the same region. By segmenting the fields of view and identifying the overlap zone, the system can selectively process image data to eliminate redundant obscured regions while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
2Loss of information
If the entire first field of view is displayed in the composite image, then all visible information is provided, but overlapping regions cause image duplication and reduced clarity
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and identifies the overlap zone between the first and second fields of view. By taking out the overlapping region from the first field of view, the system selects only the non-overlapping portion for inclusion in the composite image. This extraction process eliminates image duplication and improves clarity while preserving all unique information from both camera views.
3Loss of information
If a semi-transparent representation of the towed vehicle is used to show obscured regions, then hidden areas become visible, but the overall image complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the towed vehicle representation semi-transparent to reveal hidden areas, the system inverts the approach by using the towed vehicle camera to directly capture the obscured regions. The processor then selects portions of this second image data that correspond to the obscuration region, providing clear visibility of hidden areas without requiring complex transparency processing or composite blending operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to an image processing system for processing image data received from first and second imaging devices provided on a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle connected by an articulated coupling. The image processing system includes one or more controller. The image processing system has an input configured to receive first image data from a first imaging device disposed on the towed vehicle and second image data from a second imaging device disposed on the towing vehicle. The first imaging device has a first field of view and the first image data represents a first scene behind the towed vehicle. The second imaging device has a second field of view and the second image data represents a second scene behind the towing vehicle. The image processing system includes a processor configured to determine an obscuration region in the second field of view which is obscured by the towed vehicle. An area of interest is determined in the first field of view in dependence on the determined obscuration region. The processor is configured to select a subsection of the first image data representing at least a portion of the determined area of interest. The present invention also relates to a method of processing image data; computer software and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium.