Camera-Based Detection System for Vehicle Hazard Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side view mirrors increase a vehicle's drag coefficient, leading to higher fuel consumption, and existing systems do not effectively enhance driver awareness of potential hazards in real-time, especially in complex environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A detection system equipped with multiple image capturing devices, an image processing module, and display devices that identify and highlight potential hazards in real-time, using video extraction logic, spatial and temporal segmentation, and adaptive contrast adjustments to provide visual and audible alerts, while tracking driver behavior to anticipate intentions and reduce distractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If side view mirrors are used to provide visual information to the driver, then driver awareness of external environment is improved, but vehicle drag coefficient increases leading to higher fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical side view mirrors with an electronic detection system comprising multiple image capturing devices (cameras), an image processing module, and display devices. This substitution eliminates the physical mirrors that create drag, while maintaining or enhancing the driver's awareness of the external environment through processed visual information displayed on screens within the vehicle.
2Reliability
If multiple image capturing devices and processing modules are added to enhance hazard detection, then driver awareness and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hazard detection system into distinct functional modules: multiple image capturing devices for different viewing angles, an image processing module for analyzing captured images, and display devices for presenting information to the driver. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing module serves as an intermediary between the image capturing devices and the display devices. It processes raw image data, identifies potential hazards, and generates appropriate visual alerts, thereby simplifying the information flow and reducing the complexity of direct connections between multiple sensors and display elements.
3Loss of information
If visual information is superimposed on display devices to highlight hazards, then driver awareness is enhanced, but visual clarity of the original images may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality enhancement by superimposing hazard information only in specific regions of the display where hazards are detected, rather than uniformly across the entire display. This allows the majority of the display area to maintain high visual clarity for viewing the external environment, while selectively enhancing hazard areas with visual alerts.
Data Source
AI summary
A detection system (5) for assisting a driver when driving a vehicle, the system (5) comprising: a plurality of image capturing devices (98) mounted to the vehicle to capture images of the external environment of the vehicle; an image processing module (95) to identify potential hazards in real-time from the captured images and to superimpose information of the external environment relating to the identified potential hazards; and at least one display device (92) to display images processed by the image processing module in real-time; wherein the superimposed information is provided in an area of the display device (92) to ensure visual clarity of the images of the external environment.