Road Surface Object Detection Using Headlamp Shadow Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous driving systems face challenges in accurately detecting objects at night due to insufficient luminous performance of lighting devices, which hinders safe navigation and maneuvering.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a lighting device to project a light pattern on the road surface, where objects cast identifiable shadows, allowing a camera to detect these shadows and process them for object detection, potentially modifying the pattern for enhanced feature extraction using machine learning and image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing lighting devices are used to illuminate the road at night, then the system complexity is low and no additional hardware is needed, but the object detection accuracy is insufficient due to inadequate luminous performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system projects a structured light pattern (grid of light pixels) onto the road surface before capturing the image. This preliminary illumination action creates distinct shadow regions that enhance the detectability of objects, allowing the processing unit to identify objects through shadow analysis even when ambient light is insufficient
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the illumination parameters by projecting a specific light pattern with controlled intensity and distribution. The light pattern consists of multiple light pixels with adjustable luminous intensity, creating a structured illumination field that enhances shadow contrast and improves object detection capability without requiring completely new lighting hardware
2Measurement precision
If a structured light pattern is projected to enhance object detection, then the detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional light modules
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing lighting device perform multiple functions: it continues to provide general road illumination while simultaneously projecting a structured light pattern for object detection. The same lighting device that illuminates the road is also used to create the detection pattern, eliminating the need for separate projection hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The existing lighting device serves itself by dual-purpose usage. The headlamp or lighting device that normally illuminates the road is repurposed to also create the structured light pattern for shadow-based object detection, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external additional components
3Ease of operation
If a uniform light pattern is used, then the shadow identification is easier and processing resources are reduced, but the luminous intensity distribution is less optimized for specific detection scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The light pattern consists of multiple discrete light pixels distributed across the illumination area, each with controllable intensity. This allows different regions to have different luminous characteristics, optimizing shadow contrast in specific areas while maintaining overall illumination efficiency and facilitating easier shadow identification in processed images
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
Improves object detection accuracy and safety in autonomous driving by leveraging existing lighting devices to identify shadows, enabling safer navigation and maneuvering without additional hardware, and allowing for autonomous vehicle control decisions.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting device projects a light pattern on the road surface where the object is intended to be detected
Implementation Method 2
In this image, acquired by the image device, the object causes a shadow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention refers to a method for detecting an object in a road surface, the method comprising the steps of projecting a light pattern (6) on the road surface (5), acquiring an image of the projected light pattern (6), detecting a shadow (7) in the acquired image and using some features of the shadow (7) to obtain information about features of an object. The invention also provides a method for autonomous driving using this object detection and an automotive lighting device (1).