Rear Obstacle Warning Fusion for Blind Spot Direction Cues
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers have difficulty recognizing obstacles in their vehicle's rear and blind spots without moving their line of sight, making it hard to determine the direction of moving objects, which increases the risk of collisions.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance system that combines camera images with ultrasonic and millimeter-wave radar data to detect obstacles and output directional warning information, allowing drivers to recognize potential hazards beyond their direct line of sight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the driver looks at mirrors to check rear and side areas, then the driver can see captured images of those areas, but the driver cannot simultaneously obtain fields of view from multiple mirrors without moving line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines captured images from multiple mirrors (rearview mirror, right side mirror, left side mirror) into a single composite display that shows all fields of view simultaneously. This allows the driver to obtain information from all mirrors at once without moving line of sight, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential viewing of individual mirror images to a multi-dimensional composite display that presents multiple fields of view in a single spatial arrangement. This dimensional change allows simultaneous perception of rear and side areas without requiring the driver to shift attention between different mirrors.
2Loss of information
If the driver is not aware of which mirror was looked at, then the driver cannot determine the direction of the moving object in the captured image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides visual feedback by displaying directional indicators (arrows) that show the relationship between the driver's line of sight and the direction of detected moving objects. This feedback mechanism enables the driver to understand object direction even when not actively monitoring which mirror is being viewed, thereby preventing loss of directional information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces directional arrows as an intermediary element that mediates between the captured images and the driver's understanding of object location. These arrows provide explicit directional information that bridges the gap between seeing an object in a mirror image and understanding its actual direction relative to the vehicle.
3Measurement precision
If only captured images are used for obstacle detection, then the system can detect obstacles at short distances, but obstacles at long distances cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges obstacle detection results from multiple sources: captured images (for short-distance obstacles) and measurement waves (for long-distance obstacles). This combination allows the system to detect obstacles at various distances reliably, resolving the contradiction between detection distance and detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional detection system that uses both optical detection (cameras) and electromagnetic wave detection (radar/sonar) to cover different detection ranges. This universal approach ensures reliable obstacle detection whether the obstacle is near or far, eliminating the limitation of single-method detection.
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 effectively warns drivers of obstacles in the rear and blind spots, reducing the risk of collisions by providing clear directional information, enhancing safety during driving.
Implementation Method 1
a second detection section that detects an obstacle by analyzing a reflected wave of a measurement wave transmitted to the rear side
Data Source
AI summary
Warning information that facilitates grasping an obstacle located in rear of a vehicle is provided. A driving assistance system including: a first detection section that detects an obstacle from a plurality of captured images of a rear side of a driver of a vehicle; a second detection section that detects the obstacle by analyzing a reflected wave of a measurement wave transmitted to the rear side; and an information output section that determines a direction in which the obstacle is located with respect to the vehicle on the basis of detection results of the first detection section and the second detection section, and that outputs warning information indicating the direction.