Vehicle 3D Bounding Box Estimation From Partial Image Cues

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems for autonomous driving face inaccuracies in determining 3D outer bounding boxes of vehicles due to incomplete vehicle images, leading to low accuracy in location and orientation estimation.

Innovation Solution

An image processing method that generates 3D outer bounding box location information using two-dimensional bounding frame coordinates, wheel coordinates, and angles, irrespective of image completeness, enhancing accuracy and enabling precise determination of vehicle orientation and dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a neural network is used to output vehicle information based on complete vehicle images, then the processing speed is fast, but the accuracy deteriorates when the vehicle image is incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of 3D outer bounding boxVSAvoidrobustness to incomplete images
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vehicle detection task into multiple independent components: 2D bounding box detection, wheel coordinate detection, and angle detection. Each component is detected separately using the neural network, and then integrated through geometric calculation to form the complete 3D outer bounding box. This segmentation allows each sub-task to be optimized independently and makes the system more robust to incomplete images, as each component can be detected from available image portions without requiring the complete vehicle to be visible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from direct 3D bounding box detection to a multi-dimensional approach: first detecting 2D bounding box parameters, then wheel coordinates, then rotation angles, and finally integrating these across multiple dimensions to construct the 3D outer bounding box. This dimensional decomposition allows the system to accurately determine vehicle parameters even when the vehicle is not fully visible in the image, as each dimension can be inferred from partial observations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If traditional 2D bounding box detection is used, then the implementation is simple, but the 3D location accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3D location accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex 3D localization problem into simpler sub-problems: 2D bounding box detection, wheel coordinate detection, and angle detection. Each sub-problem is solved using relatively simple neural network modules, and the results are integrated through geometric calculation. This segmentation maintains implementation simplicity while achieving accurate 3D localization, as each segment can be processed independently and then combined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wheel coordinates and rotation angles as intermediary parameters that bridge the gap between simple 2D bounding box detection and accurate 3D localization. These intermediaries serve as additional measurements that, when combined with the 2D bounding box, enable precise calculation of the 3D outer bounding box through geometric relationships, without requiring complex direct 3D detection algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complete vehicle images are required for accurate detection, then the detection accuracy is high, but the applicability deteriorates in real-world scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability to incomplete imagesVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by detecting only the necessary components visible in the image (2D bounding box, wheels, and angle markers) rather than requiring the complete vehicle. The geometric calculation then integrates these partial observations to infer the complete 3D outer bounding box. This approach enables accurate detection even when parts of the vehicle are occluded or not visible, significantly improving applicability to real-world incomplete images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of complete vehicle visibility with a geometric calculation system. Instead of relying on the physical presence of all vehicle parts in the image, the system uses geometric relationships between detected features (2D bounding box, wheel coordinates, angle markers) to mathematically reconstruct the 3D outer bounding box. This substitution of geometric reasoning for physical completeness enables accurate detection in partial view scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4137990B1Image processing method, network training method, and related device
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4137990B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4137990B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4137990B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

This application provides an image processing method, a network training method, and a related device, and relates to image processing technologies in the artificial intelligence field. The method includes: inputting a first image including a first vehicle into an image processing network to obtain a first result output by the image processing network, where the first result includes location information of a two-dimensional 2D bounding frame of the first vehicle, coordinates of a wheel of the first vehicle, and a first angle of the first vehicle, and the first angle of the first vehicle indicates an included angle between a side line of the first vehicle and a first axis of the first image; and generating location information of a three-dimensional 3D outer bounding box of the first vehicle based on the first result. The location information of the three-dimensional 3D outer bounding box of the first vehicle is generated based on the three parameters: the location information of the two-dimensional bounding frame of the second vehicle, the coordinates of the wheel, and the first angle, thereby improving accuracy of the obtained 3D outer bounding box.