Vehicle Camera Repositioning for Depth Detection at Standstill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to detect objects in a vehicle's environment when the vehicle is at a standstill or moving very slowly, preventing spatial detection and automated classification of objects.
Innovation Solution
A method using a single camera with an active actuator system to adjust its position without changing the vehicle's driving condition, combined with triangulation, to determine object information by capturing images from different positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is used to determine object information, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the camera acquisition strategy based on vehicle motion state. When the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, the camera is actively repositioned to capture images from different positions. When the vehicle is moving normally, standard capture sequences are used. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision across different operating conditions while keeping the device simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic camera repositioning during stationary or slow vehicle operation. The camera is moved to multiple predetermined positions and captures images at each position in a periodic sequence. This periodic action enables sufficient baseline accumulation for accurate triangulation without requiring continuous vehicle motion, thus maintaining measurement precision while using a simple single-camera system.
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle moves to capture images from different positions, then depth information can be determined through triangulation, but the vehicle's normal operation is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the source of camera movement based on operational context. During vehicle motion, it uses vehicle displacement to change camera positions. During stationary or slow operation, it uses an independent camera positioning mechanism. This dynamic approach ensures depth information can be obtained without disrupting normal vehicle operation, as the system adapts to the vehicle's current state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary camera positioning mechanism that decouples the camera position change from vehicle motion. This intermediary system can reposition the camera independently using a positioning mechanism with predetermined positions, allowing baseline accumulation without requiring the vehicle to move. This resolves the contradiction by enabling depth measurement while maintaining vehicle operation continuity.
3Reliability
If multiple cameras are used to capture environment data, then object detection reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic camera repositioning to simulate multiple camera viewpoints. By capturing images from different positions sequentially and combining them, the system achieves reliable object detection and classification equivalent to having multiple simultaneous cameras. This periodic action approach maintains detection reliability while avoiding the complexity of multiple concurrent camera systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of the camera at different spatial positions through sequential capture and image processing. By processing images as if captured by multiple cameras at different locations, the system achieves multi-camera detection reliability using a single physical camera. This copying approach reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability needed for safe object detection.
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
Enables spatial observation and classification of objects even when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, providing accurate depth information and object coordinates through precise triangulation.
Implementation Method 1
capturing the environment with the at least one camera from a first position and, depending on this, creating a first image consisting of first pixels
Implementation Method 2
determining object coordinates of the assigned object point from first image coordinates of the at least one first pixel and from second image coordinates of the at least one second pixel by triangulation assuming a base length between the two positions of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for determining object information relating to an object in an environment of a vehicle having a camera. The method includes: capturing the environment with the camera from a first position; changing the position of the camera; capturing the environment with the camera from a second position; determining object information relating to an object by selecting at least one first pixel in the first image and at least one second pixel in the second image, by selecting the first pixel and the second pixel such that they are assigned to the same object point of the object, and determining object coordinates of the assigned object point by triangulation. Changing the position of the camera is brought about by controlling an active actuator system in the vehicle. The actuator system adjusts the camera by an adjustment distance without changing a driving condition of the vehicle.