Road Incline Detection via Image Reference Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the incline of a road, particularly for automated parking maneuvers, rely heavily on acceleration sensors, which can fail, necessitating an alternative cost-effective solution for incline detection.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing image data from vehicle-mounted cameras to identify reference objects and estimate road incline by analyzing their relationship with a defined reference system, providing a signal for activation of automated parking brakes and monitoring of parked vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acceleration sensors are used for incline detection, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a fallback mechanism using image sensor data to detect road incline when the acceleration sensor fails. This preparatory alternative detection method cushions against the reliability risk of sensor failure, ensuring continuous incline detection capability without driver intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image sensor data as an intermediary detection method between the primary acceleration sensor and the final incline measurement. When the acceleration sensor fails, the image processing system acts as a mediator to provide alternative incline detection, maintaining system reliability.
2Reliability
If alternative incline detection methods are developed, then reliability is improved through redundancy, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the image sensor system multi-functional by using it for both primary visual perception tasks and alternative incline detection. This universal approach provides reliability redundancy without adding dedicated hardware, as the existing image sensor serves dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the image sensor system to serve itself by processing its own data for incline detection when the acceleration sensor fails. The system uses its existing computational resources and data processing capabilities to provide alternative measurement, avoiding additional hardware complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If image sensor data is used for incline estimation, then cost is reduced by using existing components, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical acceleration sensor system with an optical/image processing-based incline detection method. This substitution uses existing image sensor data and computational algorithms to estimate road incline, reducing hardware costs while providing sufficient precision for automated parking functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an incline of a road on which a vehicle is located includes importing image data of an environment of the vehicle, the image data being generated by an image sensor. The method further includes identifying a defined reference object in the environment of the vehicle from the image data and identifying a relationship between the identified reference object and a defined reference system of the image sensor. The method also includes estimating the incline of the road on the basis of the identified relationship and providing a signal representing the incline of the road.