Autonomous Vehicle Light Inspection Using Camera-Based Luminance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual inspection of autonomous vehicle (AV) lights is inefficient and time-consuming, and human inspectors may miss conditions like dirt or misalignment that affect light functionality.
Innovation Solution
An automated light inspection system that uses a camera to capture images of AV lights, determines luminance, and positions the AV relative to the camera to assess light functionality, with the ability to autonomously maneuver for inspection within a facility or by another AV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inspection is performed by human inspectors, then inspection can be conducted periodically, but inspection time is excessive and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inspection process with an automated optical inspection system using cameras and image processing algorithms. The system captures images of vehicle lights and automatically analyzes them to detect issues such as burnout, misalignment, and dirt accumulation, eliminating the need for human inspectors to manually examine each light component.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system enables vehicles to be self-inspected or automatically inspected without human intervention. The automated system performs continuous monitoring and assessment of light functionality, allowing the inspection process to serve itself through algorithmic analysis rather than requiring periodic manual intervention by human inspectors.
2Reliability
If manual inspection is performed, then human inspectors can observe light operation, but human inspectors may miss conditions like dirt or misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human visual inspection with automated image capture and analysis systems. Cameras equipped with specialized lenses and image processing algorithms objectively measure light performance parameters including luminance, alignment, and cleanliness, eliminating human limitations such as fatigue, subjective judgment, and inability to detect subtle misalignments or dirt accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system adds dimensional precision by using multiple cameras positioned at different angles and distances to capture comprehensive views of light components. This multi-dimensional approach enables detection of misalignment and other spatial issues that single-point manual inspection would miss, providing thorough coverage of all light surfaces and orientations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces inspection time, increases efficiency, and ensures that AVs are less likely to be on the road with inoperable lights by accurately detecting issues such as burnout, dirt, or misalignment.
Implementation Method 1
an image captured by the camera, the image including the switched-on light of the AV
Data Source
AI summary
A light inspection system positions an autonomous vehicle (AV) in a field of view of a camera such that the camera captures an image of a light of the AV. The light inspection system instructs a camera to capture an image of the light while the light is switched on. The light inspection system receives the captured image, determines a luminance of the light based on the image, and determines to service the light in response to the luminance of the light being below a threshold luminance.