Pavement Marker Recognition via Road Shape Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pavement marker recognition systems are prone to errors when recognizing worn-off markers or shades similar in shape to markers, leading to incorrect identification.
Innovation Solution
A pavement marker recognition device that includes a correspondence table data storage unit, a pavement marker candidate extraction unit, a road shape analysis unit, and a verification unit, which analyze the road shape and extract image areas similar to markers, and verify their correspondence to accurately determine true pavement markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pavement marker recognition is performed using only tone or color information, then the recognition process is simple and fast, but recognition accuracy deteriorates when markers are worn-off or when similar shades exist on the pavement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional tone/color information to two-dimensional spatial information by analyzing road shape and positional relationships. The system extracts road shape information from images and uses it to verify pavement marker candidates, adding a spatial dimension to the recognition process that enables accurate identification even when tone information is ambiguous or degraded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces road shape information as an intermediary element that mediates between the image data and pavement marker identification. By analyzing the road shape and comparing it with stored correspondence relationships, the system can verify whether a detected tone pattern is indeed a pavement marker, reducing false positives from worn-off markers or similar shades.
2Loss of time
If the recognition range is limited to the self vehicle traveling area, then processing time is reduced and erroneous detection is prevented, but recognition accuracy deteriorates for worn-off markers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of road shape information from the captured image before conducting pavement marker recognition. This pre-processing step creates a reference framework that guides the subsequent marker detection process, allowing the system to efficiently evaluate candidates within the traveling area while maintaining high accuracy through the pre-established spatial context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional tone-based detection mechanisms with a spatial reasoning mechanism that uses road shape analysis. Instead of relying solely on pixel intensity patterns, the system substitutes a geometric approach that analyzes the structure and configuration of road elements, providing more robust detection for degraded markers.
3Reliability
If multiple verification parameters are used to improve recognition accuracy, then false detections are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the road shape analysis unit serve multiple functions: it extracts spatial information for verification, provides contextual context for marker location, and establishes a reference framework for candidate evaluation. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high reliability through a single versatile component rather than multiple specialized verification modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a correspondence table that stores pre-defined relationships between road shapes and pavement marker patterns. By copying these established spatial relationships into the verification process, the system can efficiently check candidates against known configurations without requiring complex real-time analysis of every possible marker variation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pavement marker recognition device for recognizing a pavement marker accurately is provided, the device being capable of recognizing an object even when it is difficult to be recognized only from tones or color information. A pavement marker candidate extraction unit extracts an image area having a feature similar to that of a pavement marker from an image captured by a car-mounted camera as a pavement marker candidate area, a road shape analysis unit analyzes the road shape from the image captured by the car-mounted camera, and a pavement marker verification unit determines whether the road shape analyzed by the road shape analysis unit and the pavement marker candidate area extracted by the pavement marker candidate extraction unit are in a correspondence relationship indicated by a road shape and pavement marker correspondence table, and based on the determination result, recognizes the pavement marker candidate area as a true pavement marker.