Interior Camera Layout With Priority Zones for Self-Driving Cars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack an efficient interior sensor system capable of monitoring cabin conditions, occupant safety, and maintenance needs across varying ambient lighting conditions, and require enhanced functionality for rider support and object detection.
Innovation Solution
An interior sensor system equipped with visible and near-infrared sensors, image sensors, and a control system that captures images, processes data, and performs actions based on predetermined checklists, prioritizing zones within the vehicle for effective illumination and object detection, including communication with remote facilities for maintenance and passenger notification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visible and near-infrared sensors are used to monitor the cabin in all ambient lighting conditions, then the system can detect objects and conditions accurately, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interior sensing system divides the vehicle cabin into multiple priority zones (first priority, second priority, third priority) and allocates different sensor types and illumination strategies to each zone. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive detection accuracy while managing complexity by treating different areas with appropriate levels of monitoring intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sensor configurations and illumination methods are applied to different zones based on their priority levels. First priority zones receive full infrared illumination and high-resolution monitoring, while lower priority zones use reduced illumination or lower monitoring intensity, optimizing detection accuracy where needed while reducing overall system complexity and energy consumption.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple image sensors are disposed along different surfaces to capture images of the entire interior area, then the coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the interior monitoring area into multiple priority zones and assigns sensors strategically to cover these zones. Rather than uniformly distributing sensors throughout the entire cabin, the system concentrates sensing resources on high-priority areas while using fewer sensors for lower-priority regions, achieving comprehensive coverage with optimized sensor placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses infrared illumination to add a temporal dimension to detection, enabling the sensors to capture images in all ambient lighting conditions including complete darkness. This allows the system to achieve full coverage without increasing the physical number of sensors, as the infrared capability provides an additional detection dimension.
3Adaptability or versatility
If infrared units are used to illuminate zones during image capture, then the system can operate in all lighting conditions, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Infrared illumination is applied selectively to different zones based on their priority levels and current ambient lighting conditions. First priority zones receive full infrared illumination when needed, while second and third priority zones receive reduced or no illumination. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain adaptability across all lighting conditions while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial infrared illumination rather than illuminating the entire cabin uniformly. By applying infrared light only to specific zones and at reduced intensity for lower priority areas, the system achieves sufficient monitoring capability in all lighting conditions while consuming less energy than full-cabin illumination would require.
4Productivity
If the system prioritizes zones based on multiple priority levels, then the monitoring efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes priority level assignments for different interior zones before operation begins. These priority levels are configured in advance based on safety and monitoring requirements, allowing the control system to efficiently allocate sensor resources and illumination without complex real-time decision-making. This preliminary configuration simplifies the operational control while maintaining high monitoring efficiency.
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
The system ensures occupant safety, maintains cabin cleanliness, detects objects, and provides rider support by effectively capturing images and performing actions across all ambient lighting conditions, enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
one or more infrared units configured to illuminate one or more zones within the vehicle during image capture
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of image sensors disposed along different surfaces within an interior area of the vehicle, the plurality of image sensors configured to capture images of the interior area
Data Source
AI summary
The technology provides an interior camera sensing system for self-driving vehicles. The sensor system includes image sensors and infrared illuminators to see the vehicle's cabin and storage areas in all ambient lighting conditions. The system can monitor the vehicle for safety purposes, to detect the cleanliness of the cabin and storage areas, as well as to detect whether packages or other objects have been inadvertently left in the vehicle. The cameras are arranged to focus on selected regions in the vehicle cabin and the system carries out certain actions in response to information evaluated for those regions. The interior space is divided into multiple zones assigned different coverage priorities. Regardless of elude size or configuration, certain actions are performed according to various ride checklists and the imagery detected by the interior cameras. The checklists include pre-ride, mid-ride, and post-ride checklists.