Stereo Camera Obstacle Detection for Emergency Braking Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency braking systems based on surround sensors face challenges in achieving low error rates due to the high complexity of data acquisition and infrastructure requirements, necessitating extensive driving hours for verification, which is resource-intensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method using a stereo image recording device, such as a stereo camera, to monitor the surrounding region by analyzing a cut-away portion of the distance image for obstacle detection, employing a simplified evaluation window and existence measure calculation to reduce complexity and validate the system with fewer driving hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive driving hours are used for verification, then reliability of the emergency braking system is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of real-world driving scenarios through simulated environments. Instead of requiring extensive real driving hours for verification, the system uses virtual replicas of road scenes, weather conditions, and obstacle configurations to validate the emergency braking system, dramatically reducing the time needed while maintaining verification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary validation by pre-processing and storing representative driving statistics and sensor data in advance. By preparing virtual test scenarios beforehand with pre-recorded distance images, obstacle positions, and environmental conditions, the system can conduct comprehensive verification without requiring extensive real-time driving hours
2Measurement precision
If the entire distance image is analyzed for obstacle detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distance image into multiple regions of interest based on spatial coordinates and obstacle types. Instead of analyzing the entire distance image uniformly, the system divides it into relevant sections (e.g., front view, side views, specific distance ranges) and applies targeted detection algorithms to each segment, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different analysis qualities to different regions of the distance image. High-resolution analysis is applied only to critical regions where obstacles are most likely to appear or where precision is most needed, while less critical regions receive reduced analysis, optimizing the balance between detection accuracy and computational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring a vehicle's surrounding region, includes reading in a distance image pertaining to the surrounding region, the distance image including distance values representing the result of a multiplicity of distance measurements, which are performed with a sensor for stereo image recording based on a method for calculating a stereo disparity map concerning the surrounding region sensed by the sensor. In a selecting, a cut-away portion from the distance image is selected, and in a detecting, an obstacle located in the surrounding region is detected using the distance values included in the cut-away portion. In an ascertaining, a number of relevant distance values is ascertained, which represent distance values included in the cut-away portion that are allocatable to the obstacle. In an ascertaining, a value of an existence measure for the existence of the obstacle is determined, based on the number and quality of relevant distance values.