Stereo Camera Road Incline Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle systems lack the capability to accurately determine whether a road ahead is uphill or downhill using camera-based information, which is crucial for driver assistance and autonomous driving applications.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance apparatus equipped with a stereo camera that generates depth maps from captured images to differentiate between uphill and downhill road segments, utilizing these maps to control camera tilt and adjust vehicle systems accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a stereo camera is used to capture images for road incline detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a stereo camera system that captures images from multiple spatial dimensions (left and right viewpoints) to calculate depth information and road incline angles. By transitioning from 2D single-camera imaging to 3D stereo imaging, the system achieves accurate road slope detection without requiring additional complex sensors beyond the camera pair.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is tilted to follow the road incline, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the road incline angle from stereo images and uses this information to automatically adjust the camera's tilt angle. This feedback loop enables the camera to adaptively follow road contours, maintaining optimal viewing angles without requiring complex manual control systems or additional sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system transitions from a static fixed-position design to a dynamic adjustable-position design where the camera tilt angle changes in real-time based on detected road incline. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal imaging conditions across varying road geometries.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Systems and techniques are disclosed for providing driver assistance in a vehicle. A driver assistance apparatus includes a stereo camera configured to acquire stereo images of a view ahead of a vehicle, and a processor configured to generate a depth map based on the acquired stereo images and to determine whether a road segmentthat is within the view ahead of the vehicleis an uphill road segmentor a downhill road segmentbased on the generated depth map.