Rotational Camera Blind-Spot Detection on Curved Roads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face challenges in detecting road obstructions in blind spots while navigating curvy roads due to vehicle structural components obstructing their field of view.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted one-degree-of-freedom rotational camera captures images of the obstructed area using AI-based image processing, determines road obstructions, and outputs alerts through augmented reality and audio notifications on the dashboard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a driver relies on direct visual observation while navigating curvy roads, then the driver maintains simple operation and low device complexity, but the driver cannot detect road obstructions in blind spots occluded by vehicle structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device mounted on the vehicle to capture images of blind spot areas that are occluded from the driver's direct view. The camera acts as a mediator between the driver and the obscured road environment, transmitting visual information about obstructions without requiring the driver to physically position themselves in blind spots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of direct visual observation with an optical-electronic system. Instead of relying on the driver's physical position and line of sight, the system uses a camera to capture images and an AI-based image processing module to analyze them, substituting electronic processing for mechanical visual inspection.
2Loss of information
If the driver's field of view is obstructed by vehicle structural components, then the vehicle maintains its structural integrity and safety, but the driver loses awareness of road obstacles in occluded areas
Solution Approach 1:
The camera serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap created by structural obstructions. It captures visual information from areas blocked by pillars and other vehicle components, relaying this information to the driver through the display system, thereby compensating for the information loss caused by the obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension to the driver's perception by providing visual information from angles and positions that are not directly visible to the driver. The camera is positioned to capture blind spot areas, effectively extending the driver's field of view into three-dimensional space around the vehicle structure.
3Measurement precision
If AI-based image processing is used to detect road obstructions, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The AI-based image processing module is pre-configured with algorithms and models trained to recognize various types of road obstructions. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly analyze captured images and identify potential hazards without requiring complex real-time computations, reducing processing time while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle having a camera disposed at a vehicle front portion is disclosed. The camera may be configured to capture images of a geographical area that may be occluded from a driver field of view caused by presence of a vehicle vertical body-mounted pillar when the vehicle traverses a road curve. The vehicle may further include a processor configured to obtain a trigger signal and activate the camera responsive to obtaining the trigger signal. The processor may be further configured to obtain the images from the camera and determine a road obstruction presence in the geographical area based on the obtained images. The processor may output a visual alert notification or an audible alert notification responsive to determining the road obstruction presence.