Driving Support Timing for Night Pedestrian Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a pedestrian is detected between a host vehicle and an oncoming vehicle at night, the recognition of the pedestrian by a camera may be delayed due to the influence of the oncoming vehicle's headlights, leading to a delay in driving support systems such as brake control.
Innovation Solution
A driving support system that uses a combination of radar and optical sensors to detect obstacles and calculates the likelihood of collision, advancing the timing of alarm and travel controls when an obstacle is detected between vehicles, especially under low illuminance or when the oncoming vehicle's reflection intensity is higher than the pedestrian's, and includes micro-Doppler signal detection for earlier intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is used to detect pedestrians at night, then the system can identify obstacles, but the recognition is delayed due to light interference from oncoming vehicle headlights
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection using radar and LIDAR before confirming pedestrian presence with the camera. When an oncoming vehicle is detected, the system proactively checks for obstacles in the potential collision path ahead of the camera's visual recognition, compensating for the camera's delay caused by headlight interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar and LIDAR systems act as intermediary detection devices that operate effectively in low-light conditions. These sensors detect obstacles before the camera can visually confirm them, providing early warning despite the camera's inability to see clearly through oncoming headlights.
2Reliability
If the system waits for camera confirmation before activating driving support, then false alarms are reduced, but the response time to actual hazards is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates alarm and travel controls based on radar/LIDAR detection before camera confirmation is complete. The multi-sensor approach allows earlier intervention while maintaining reliability through cross-validation of detection data from multiple sensor types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its detection and response strategy based on environmental conditions. When operating conditions suggest potential camera delays (such as nighttime or oncoming traffic), the system shifts to rely more heavily on radar and LIDAR for timely detection and response.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are combined for detection, then detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar and LIDAR systems serve multiple functions: primary obstacle detection, range measurement, and early warning in low-light conditions. This multi-functionality justifies their inclusion despite increased complexity, as they provide critical detection capabilities that the camera alone cannot deliver.
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
This approach effectively suppresses delays in driving support by prioritizing the timing of alarm and travel controls when obstacles are detected between vehicles, enhancing safety by reducing the latency in response to potential collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a detector including at least one of a radar device and an LIDAR
Implementation Method 2
a reflection intensity of a first echo, which is an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the detector and reflected by the oncoming vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a detector including at least one of a radar device and an LIDAR
Implementation Method 4
when a micro-Doppler signal has been detected by the detector
Data Source
AI summary
A driving support device includes a detector configured to detect an obstacle in front of a host vehicle, and a processor configured to calculate the likelihood of collision between the obstacle and the host vehicle and to perform at least one of alarm control and travel control when the likelihood is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. When the obstacle has been detected between the host vehicle and an oncoming vehicle with respect to the host vehicle, the processor brings forward the timing to start at least one of the alarm control and the travel control as compared to a case where the obstacle has not been detected between the host vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.