Lane Line Sensor Switching Under Wet and Low-Visibility Roads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lane division line detection systems struggle to accurately identify lane boundaries due to varying road surface conditions, particularly when temperature differences between the lane markings and the road surface are unclear.
Innovation Solution
A lane division line detection device that utilizes both a camera and a temperature sensor, selecting the appropriate sensor based on a visibility index to ensure accurate detection regardless of road surface conditions, using a classifier to determine wetness and historical detection failure rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensor is used to detect lane division line, then detection can be performed on dark road surfaces, but detection fails when temperature difference between line and road surface is unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs both a camera and a temperature sensor to detect lane division lines, with the camera serving as a complementary detection device. The camera captures images of the road surface and lane markings, providing visual information that can be processed to detect lane lines based on color, contrast, or pattern recognition, thereby offering an alternative detection mechanism when thermal contrast is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates a visibility index based on image data from the camera and uses this index to dynamically select which sensor (camera or temperature sensor) should be used for lane division line detection. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying road surface conditions by switching between detection methods based on real-time environmental assessment.
2Reliability
If camera is used to detect lane division line, then detection works on varied road surfaces, but detection fails when visibility is poor due to wet road surfaces or other conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs both a camera and a temperature sensor to detect lane division lines, with the temperature sensor serving as a complementary detection device. The temperature sensor measures thermal radiation from the road surface and lane markings, providing temperature-based detection capability that works independently of visual conditions such as wet surfaces, darkness, or poor lighting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates a visibility index based on image data from the camera and uses this index to dynamically select which sensor (camera or temperature sensor) should be used for lane division line detection. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to varying road surface conditions by switching between detection methods based on real-time environmental assessment.
3Reliability
If single sensor is used for detection, then device complexity is low, but detection reliability under varying conditions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs both a camera and a temperature sensor to detect lane division lines, with each sensor serving multiple purposes. The camera not only captures visual information for lane detection but also provides data for calculating the visibility index that guides sensor selection. The temperature sensor similarly contributes to both direct thermal-based lane detection and to the overall system's adaptability to different environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which sensor to use for lane division line detection based on real-time calculation of a visibility index. This dynamic selection mechanism allows the system to optimize its performance by adapting to changing environmental conditions such as wet road surfaces, darkness, or poor lighting, rather than relying on a fixed sensor configuration.
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 reliable lane division line detection under diverse road surface conditions, enhancing vehicle control systems for autonomous driving and driver assistance.
Implementation Method 1
an output from a line sensor, which is an infrared detection sensor, is analyzed
Implementation Method 2
a camera for capturing surroundings of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The lane division line detection device includes a processor configured to: determine which to use for detecting a lane division line out of a camera for capturing surroundings of a vehicle and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature distribution around the vehicle, the camera and the temperature sensor being mounted on the vehicle, based on a visibility index indicating how the road surface is viewed by the camera, detect the lane division line based on an image representing the surroundings of the vehicle generated by the camera when the camera is used, and detect the lane division line based on a temperature distribution signal representing the temperature distribution around the vehicle generated by the temperature sensor when the temperature sensor is used.