Driver Visibility Detection Using Eye Position and LIDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers often underestimate their visible range during low visibility weather conditions, leading to potential hazards, necessitating an accurate method to calculate and enhance driver visibility.
Innovation Solution
A driver visibility detection system comprising a control unit, eye position sensor, camera, LIDAR sensor, and HUD unit that determines low visibility situations and prompts the driver to look at the furthest road position, calculating their visible range using the triangle proportionality theorem.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drivers rely on own visual perception during low visibility weather conditions, then drivers may overestimate visible range, but this leads to dangerous situations and inaccurate visibility calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of cameras, LIDAR sensors, and processors that objectively measure visible range. These sensors act as mediators between the driver's subjective perception and the actual visibility conditions, providing accurate measurements without relying on driver overestimation or underestimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the driver about the actual visible range through displays or alerts. This feedback loop allows the driver to adjust their driving behavior based on objective visibility measurements rather than subjective perception, resolving the contradiction between perceived and actual visibility.
2Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple sensors (camera, LIDAR, eye position sensor) to detect visible range, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each sensor serve multiple functions: the camera captures both road scenery for visible range determination and driver eye position for attention monitoring; the LIDAR sensor measures both external visibility and can track driver eye movements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, managing complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the functions of visibility detection and driver behavior monitoring into a unified processing framework. The processor integrates data from multiple sensors to simultaneously determine external visible range and internal driver state, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration.
3Ease of manufacture
If the system calculates visible range based on furthest detected object, then calculation simplicity increases, but accuracy decreases when drivers underestimate visible range
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter basis for visible range calculation from solely object distance to a composite parameter that includes driver eye position, attention state, and environmental conditions. This allows the calculation to account for driver underestimation while maintaining computational feasibility through established geometric relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimension of driver physiological state (eye position, attention level) to the traditional object-distance-based calculation. By incorporating this additional dimension, the system achieves more accurate visible range determination without significantly complicating the calculation methodology.
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
Accurately determines and enhances driver visibility, ensuring safe vehicle operation by adjusting control modes and highlighting invisible objects, thereby reducing the risk of accidents in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The eye position obtainer recognizes an eye position of the driver
Implementation Method 2
a LIDAR sensor, and a HUD unit that displays information on a windshield of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A driver visibility detection system for a vehicle includes an indicator, an eye position obtainer, and a visible range calculator. The indicator indicates the driver to look at, through a windshield of the vehicle, a furthest ground position of a road on which the vehicle is traveling. The eye position obtainer recognizes an eye position of the driver when the driver looks at the furthest ground position. The visible range calculator calculates a visible range of the driver based on the eye position detected by the eye position obtainer.