Vehicle Detection Accuracy Under Sunlight and Lens Opacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accuracy of image recognition processing for detecting vehicles is compromised when sunlight enters a clouded lens, leading to reduced detection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device with an image acquisition unit, sun decision unit, opacity detection unit, and vehicle detection unit that adjusts detection sensitivity based on solar elevation and lens opacity, suspending vehicle detection when sunlight is low on the horizon and the lens is clouded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle detection is performed using image recognition processing, then vehicle detection capability is provided, but detection accuracy is lowered when sunlight enters a clouded lens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of lens opacity and sun position before executing vehicle detection. By calculating the sun position based on date/time, latitude, longitude, and vehicle orientation, and detecting lens opacity in advance, the system determines whether to suspend detection processing beforehand, preventing accuracy degradation from occurring in the first place
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where detection results (lens opacity and sun position) are used to control the detection process. The control unit continuously monitors lens opacity detection results and sun position calculations, and adjusts the vehicle detection process accordingly by suspending or adjusting threshold values based on the current environmental conditions
2Measurement precision
If detection sensitivity is increased to improve vehicle detection, then detection capability is enhanced, but false detection increases under sunlight interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the threshold value for vehicle detection based on real-time lens opacity conditions and sun position. When lens opacity is detected and the sun is at low elevation, the control unit adjusts the threshold value to lower detection sensitivity, preventing false detections while maintaining the ability to detect actual vehicles when conditions are favorable
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device includes: an image acquisition unit that obtains a photographic image of an area outside of a vehicle captured and output by a camera; a sun decision unit that calculates a sun position which indicates, at least, a solar elevation and makes a decision as to whether or not the solar elevation is equal to or lower than a predetermined elevation; an opacity detection unit that detects clouding of a lens surface of the camera; a vehicle detection unit that detects another vehicle, different from the vehicle, based upon image information of a first image area in the photographic image; and a control unit that suspends detection of the other vehicle by the vehicle detection unit if the opacity detection unit detects opacity in, at least, the first image area and the sun decision unit decides that the solar elevation is equal to or lower than the predetermined elevation.