Raised Brake Light Detection for Convoy Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting brake lights in vehicles driving ahead in a convoy fail to accurately identify raised stop lights when the low-mounted bilateral brake lights are covered by the preceding vehicle, leading to potential rear-end collisions due to incomplete detection.
Innovation Solution
The method involves analyzing image data from a camera to detect geometric regions with the highest brightness values in the spectral color red, positioned centrally on the vehicle's rear, at a predetermined height above the pavement, and within specific geometric proportions relative to the vehicle's structure, to identify raised stop lights, even when the standard bilateral stop lights are obscured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only low-mounted bilateral brake lights are detected, then the detection system is simple, but the detection reliability fails when brake lights are covered by preceding vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system segments the brake light detection task into two parts: detecting low-mounted bilateral brake lights and detecting raised stop lights. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple detection for standard brake lights while adding targeted detection for raised stop lights only when needed (e.g., when bilateral lights are covered), thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from detecting only low-mounted bilateral brake lights (two-dimensional planar detection) to including raised stop lights positioned higher on the vehicle (adding vertical dimension). This dimensional expansion enables detection of brake lights that are not obscured by preceding vehicles, improving detection reliability in convoy scenarios
2Measurement precision
If the image data is subdivided into sections and color differentiation is performed, then the detection precision improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by first detecting the presence and position of vehicles in the image, then determining whether bilateral brake lights are covered. Only when coverage is detected does the system proceed to the more time-consuming color differentiation and raised stop light detection. This preliminary filtering reduces overall processing time while maintaining high detection precision when needed
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 enhances the detection of braking states in vehicles ahead, enabling timely driver assistance through acoustic, visual, or haptic warnings and potential braking interventions, thereby reducing the risk of rear-end collisions.
Implementation Method 1
image data of that part of the surroundings of the vehicle which is in front of the vehicle is generated by means of a camera
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for triggering a driver assistance function of a subject vehicle, image data of surroundings in front of the vehicle is generated by a camera and supplied to an analyzing unit. A driver assistance function is triggered upon detection of a brake light of an other vehicle in the image data. A geometric region of the detected other vehicle is determined as exhibiting the highest pixel brightness values and the color red. The geometric region is detected as a raised brake light of the other vehicle if the geometric region is positioned essentially in the middle of the horizontal structure of the other vehicle, or at least a predetermined height above the roadway, or at least a predetermined distance below a rear window of the other vehicle.