Lateral eMirror Cameras as Virtual Stereo Pair for Oncoming Car Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The automotive industry faces challenges in implementing effective oncoming car detection systems without increasing vehicle costs or complexity, as existing safety and autonomy features require multiple sensors, and existing camera systems do not efficiently utilize existing hardware for this purpose.
Innovation Solution
The system configures existing lateral eMirror cameras as a virtual stereo pair, using a disparity engine to estimate distances and velocities of objects, and switches to monocular views for closer objects, leveraging existing hardware to provide oncoming car detection without additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors (cameras, ultra-sonics, radars) are installed to meet safety requirements, then safety features and autonomous control capabilities are improved, but vehicle costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing lateral eMirror cameras perform multiple functions: their primary function for side viewing is enhanced with a secondary function for oncoming car detection by treating them as a stereo camera pair, eliminating the need for dedicated additional sensors
2Extent of automation
If multiple sensors are installed to enable higher levels of autonomous control, then autonomous control capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing lateral eMirror cameras to serve dual purposes - traditional side viewing and oncoming car detection - thereby supporting higher levels of autonomous control without adding to system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of existing lateral cameras with oncoming car detection by configuring them as a virtual stereo pair, consolidating multiple detection functions into existing hardware rather than adding separate systems
3Device complexity
If existing camera systems are used for oncoming car detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of distance and velocity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms 2D image data from lateral cameras into 3D spatial information (distance and velocity) by applying stereo vision algorithms that calculate disparities between the left and right camera views, adding a depth dimension to the measurement capabilities
4Reliability
If lateral eMirror cameras are configured as a virtual stereo pair, then oncoming car detection capability is improved, but existing hardware must be re purposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically reconfigures the functional role of existing lateral eMirror cameras, allowing them to switch between traditional side viewing mode and stereo vision mode for oncoming car detection, making the system adaptable without hardware changes
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
This approach enables efficient oncoming car detection using existing camera systems, reducing costs and complexity while providing redundancy and accurate distance and speed measurements, enhancing safety features without adding sensors.
Implementation Method 1
select the first capture device and the second capture device to operate as a stereo pair of cameras based on the symmetrical orientation, receive the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames from the interface, detect an object located in the overlapping region, perform a comparison operation on the object based on the symmetrical orientation with respect to the first plurality of video frames and the second plurality of video frames and determine a distance of the object from the vehicle in response to the comparison operation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive first video frames of a first field of view captured by a first capture device and second video frames of a second field of view captured by a second capture device. The first capture device and the second capture device may have a symmetrical orientation with respect to a vehicle. The fields of view may have an overlapping region. The processor may be configured to select the capture devices to operate as a stereo pair of cameras based on the symmetrical orientation, receive the video frames from the interface, detect an object located in the overlapping region, perform a comparison operation on the object based on the symmetrical orientation with respect to the video frames and determine a distance of the object from the vehicle in response to the comparison operation.