3D Head-Up Display for Road Surface Obstacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driving aids for motor vehicles, such as head-up displays, do not effectively convey the surface condition of the roadway in a way that allows drivers to maintain focus on the road without looking away, particularly failing to provide clear, real-time information about local surface modifications like obstacles or changes in road height.
Innovation Solution
A visual driving aid system using a scanning rangefinder sensor and a computer to process data and display a three-dimensional representation of the traffic lane's surface conditions on a head-up display, allowing drivers to see local transitions and obstacles in their field of vision, with the system also capable of transmitting sound information for enhanced awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a head-up display is used to project information at eye level, then the driver can maintain focus on the road, but the display of complex surface condition information remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D head-up display to a stereoscopic 3D display system. The LIDAR sensor captures three-dimensional spatial data of the roadway surface, and the display device renders this data in stereoscopic format, allowing drivers to perceive depth, height, and spatial relationships of obstacles and surface irregularities without shifting their gaze. This dimensional enhancement enables comprehensive surface condition information to be conveyed within the driver's natural field of vision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the physical roadway surface by using LIDAR to scan and map the actual road geometry, then projecting this digital twin onto the head-up display. This virtual representation includes obstacles, surface irregularities, and spatial features that are overlaid on the driver's view of the actual road, providing enhanced information without requiring the driver to look away or interpret complex two-dimensional representations.
2Measurement precision
If traditional 2D display is used, then device complexity is low, but the driver cannot effectively perceive depth and spatial information of obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs stereoscopic display technology that adds the depth dimension to the traditional 2D head-up display. By rendering the LIDAR-acquired spatial data in three dimensions, the system enables drivers to perceive the height, distance, and spatial relationships of obstacles and surface irregularities with high precision, maintaining low device complexity through software-based rendering rather than hardware modifications.
3Loss of information
If the driver looks away from the road to check surface conditions, then detailed information can be obtained, but driving safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The LIDAR sensor continuously and preliminarily scans the roadway surface ahead of the vehicle, detecting obstacles, surface irregularities, and spatial features before the driver would need to observe them. This advance detection allows the system to prepare and display comprehensive surface condition information in the driver's field of vision, eliminating the need for the driver to shift attention or look away from the road while maintaining full awareness of surface conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The head-up display acts as an intermediary that translates complex three-dimensional LIDAR data into a visual format that can be superimposed on the driver's natural view of the road. This intermediary system processes spatial coordinates, obstacle dimensions, and surface irregularities into intuitive stereoscopic visual cues that enhance situational awareness without requiring the driver to divert attention from the roadway.
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 drivers to maintain focus on the road by providing a clear, 3D visualization of the traffic lane's surface conditions, including obstacles, thereby improving safety and reducing the need to look away from the road.
Implementation Method 1
The LIDAR sensor (4) produces at least one rectilinear light ray
Implementation Method 2
The sensor is a scanning laser rangefinder, also called LIDAR (acronym for 'light detection and ranging')
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a visual driving assistance system for a driver of a motor vehicle (1) circulating on a travel lane (3) in a determined direction, said system comprising at least one sensor (4) for acquiring data relating to the travel lane (2) in the determined direction, a computer (6) designed to process the acquired data in order to generate information, and a head-up display (7) for displaying information in the field of vision of the driver in a driving position. According to the invention, the computer (6) is designed to extract information from the acquired data, relating to local modifications (3) on the surface of the travel lane (2), and the head-up display (7) is designed to display a three-dimensional representation of said information in the field of vision of the driver.