Road Sign Recognition Without Navigation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive support systems that notify drivers of road signs require a navigation device with map data, limiting their functionality if the vehicle is not equipped with such a device.
Innovation Solution
A drive support apparatus that includes a sign recognition section, notification section, and inhibition section, utilizing an image sensor and control device to recognize and notify drivers of road signs without relying on navigation data, by determining the orientation and position of signs relative to the vehicle's travel road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the system uses navigation device data to determine road sign relevance, then notification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases and the system becomes unusable without a navigation device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of determining road sign relevance from the navigation device dependency. By removing the requirement for navigation device data and using only image recognition results combined with simple positional analysis (detecting multiple signs at the same location), the system achieves notification accuracy without the complexity and mandatory presence of a navigation device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own image recognition capabilities and basic positional analysis to determine road sign relevance, rather than relying on external navigation device data. The inhibition section independently judges whether recognized signs are for the current road by analyzing the spatial distribution of recognized signs, making the system self-sufficient.
2Loss of information
If the system notifies all recognized road signs, then information completeness is improved, but false notifications increase when signs are for crossing roads
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the spatial distribution of recognized signs to adjust notifications. When multiple signs of the same type are recognized at the same location, the inhibition section uses this feedback to judge that the signs are likely for crossing roads and suppresses notifications, thereby reducing false notifications while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recognizes all road signs (excessive action) but selectively notifies only those that pass the relevance judgment. By using the inhibition section to filter out signs for crossing roads based on their positional distribution, the system achieves partial notification that eliminates false notifications while maintaining completeness for relevant signs.
3Measurement precision
If the system requires navigation device data, then road sign relevance determination is improved, but adaptability decreases when navigation devices are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by making the road sign relevance determination function independent of navigation device data. The sign recognition section and inhibition section work together using only image data and basic positional analysis, allowing the system to function universally whether or not a navigation device is present, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining relevance determination accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive support apparatus includes a sign recognition section that recognizes a kind and a position of a road sign present around an own vehicle based on image data of a captured image around the own vehicle, a notification section that issues notification of presence of the recognized road sign if the recognized road sign is a predetermined specified sign, and an inhibition section that inhibits the notifying section from making the notification on condition that the recognized sign is detected to be present at two or more positions on one side of a travelling road on which the own vehicle is travelling.