Dynamic Time to Collision Threshold Adjustment in Low Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision avoidance systems in vehicles struggle to accurately calibrate the time to collision threshold in low light conditions, particularly when objects are dark in color, affecting the driver's ability to react in time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that modify the time to collision threshold based on real-time ambient lighting conditions and the color of an object detected in the vehicle's path, using data from various sensors and external image capturing devices, and applying lighting and color coefficients to adjust the threshold accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the standard time to collision threshold is used in low light conditions, then the collision avoidance system operates with standard parameters, but the driver's reaction time is insufficient leading to delayed collision avoidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time to collision threshold adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically modifies the threshold based on detected ambient light levels and object color characteristics. In low light conditions with dark-colored objects, the threshold is increased to provide earlier warning, while in optimal lighting conditions, the standard threshold is maintained. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the system parameters to environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If the time to collision threshold is increased to provide more reaction time, then driver safety is improved, but the system may become overly sensitive and trigger false alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the time to collision threshold based on two key parameters: ambient light level and object color reflectivity. The system measures these parameters in real-time and adjusts the threshold accordingly. This approach allows the system to maintain high safety standards without excessive false alerts, as the threshold is optimized for each specific environmental condition rather than using a universally increased value.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring ambient light levels and object color characteristics, then using this information to adjust the time to collision threshold. This closed-loop approach allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal performance, resolving the contradiction between safety and false alert prevention.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple sensors and external image capturing devices to detect objects, then detection accuracy in low light conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining data from multiple sources including onboard sensors (cameras, LIDAR, radar) and external image capturing devices (infrastructure cameras, other vehicles' sensors). The system integrates this multi-source data to improve object detection accuracy in low light conditions. By merging these detection capabilities, the system achieves higher measurement precision without requiring each individual sensor to be overly complex.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of modifying a time to collision threshold includes receiving data and images of an object from image capturing devices and non-visual sensors within an automobile, from infrastructure cameras, and from image capturing devices within other automobiles, determining ambient light levels and color of the object, comparing ambient light levels to a pre-determined ambient light level threshold, determining a standard time to collision threshold, and sending the standard time to collision threshold to the collision avoidance system when ambient light levels are at least the pre-determined ambient light level, and, determining a standard time to collision threshold, a lighting coefficient, a color coefficient, applying the lighting and color coefficients to the standard time to collision threshold, calculating a modified time to collision threshold, sending the modified time to collision threshold to the collision avoidance system, when the ambient light levels are less than the pre-determined ambient light level threshold.