Vehicle Surroundings Detection via Camera-Telematics Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle detection systems lack reliability in determining the presence of other vehicles and objects, and the accuracy of satellite navigation is insufficient for precise vehicle positioning, leading to unreliable data merging for safety and comfort functions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system combining a camera system with a telematics unit to transmit and receive position and registration information, using image recognition and RFID tags to ensure accurate vehicle identification, and integrating this data with vehicle-to-vehicle communication for enhanced driver assistance systems, including ACC, emergency braking, and lane change warnings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If satellite navigation is used for vehicle positioning, then vehicle position information can be obtained, but the accuracy is insufficient for reliable vehicle-to-vehicle communication and camera image assignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle positioning accuracyVSAvoiddata reliability for safety functions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines satellite navigation data with camera-based vehicle detection and recognition systems. The camera system captures images of surrounding vehicles, and image recognition algorithms extract precise position and identification information, which is then merged with satellite navigation data to achieve high-accuracy positioning and reliable vehicle identification for safety functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system acts as an intermediary between satellite navigation and vehicle identification. While satellite navigation provides approximate position, the camera system captures visual information of vehicles, and image recognition serves as a mediator to precisely identify and locate vehicles, compensating for the insufficient accuracy of satellite navigation alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If a mono-camera without distance sensor is used, then the system is simpler, but the distance to other vehicles cannot be determined reliably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoiddistance measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/optical distance measurement sensors with an image-based approach. The camera captures images of vehicles, and through image processing and recognition algorithms, distance information is extracted optically rather than through dedicated distance sensors, maintaining system simplicity while achieving reliable distance determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system performs multiple functions: it captures vehicle images for identification, determines distance to vehicles, and provides visual information for safety functions. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate distance sensors, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If vehicle-to-vehicle communication is used, then position information can be transmitted between vehicles, but it cannot be ensured whether other vehicles or objects are actually located at the reported positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transmission efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle location verification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where vehicles transmit their position information via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the receiving vehicle's camera system captures images to verify the actual location and identity of the transmitting vehicle. The image recognition system compares the visual information with the transmitted data, providing feedback to confirm or correct the reported position, thereby ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2091798B1Vehicle and method for identifying vehicles located in the surroundings of the vehicle
Publication Date: 2011.12.07 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP2091798B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2091798B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Vehicle having a surroundings-sensing system which makes available information on the surroundings to a closed-loop and open-loop control unit of the vehicle, and a closed-loop and/or open-loop controller changes the driving behaviour as a function of the acquired information on the surroundings, the vehicle having a recorded information system which receives the recorded information from vehicles in the surroundings, and the recorded information system compares the received recorded information with the recorded information acquired by a surroundings-sensing system and changes the closed-loop and/or open-loop control as a function of the comparison result.