Vehicle Entry Detection Using Map and Sign Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing entry detection systems for vehicles are unreliable in determining whether a vehicle has entered an entry prohibited road due to varying installation places of road signs and GPS positioning errors, leading to incorrect warnings.
Innovation Solution
An entry detection apparatus that combines a position detection unit using map data and a sign detection unit using an image sensor to determine if a vehicle has passed between no-entry signs, ensuring accurate entry determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a warning device uses road signs to detect wrong-way driving, then it can identify entry prohibited roads, but it cannot completely correctly determine whether the own vehicle is running in the wrong direction due to varying installation places of road signs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GPS position detection with image-based no-entry sign detection to determine wrong-way driving. By merging these two detection methods, the system overcomes the limitation of relying solely on GPS position (which has several meters error) or solely on road sign detection (which varies by installation place). The entry determination unit integrates both detection results to make a final determination, improving overall reliability and accuracy.
2Reliability
If a car navigation device uses GPS to detect own vehicle position, then it can identify road sections, but GPS positioning error of several meters causes errors in determining whether the own vehicle is entering an entry prohibited road
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces image-based no-entry sign detection as an intermediary to bridge the gap caused by GPS positioning errors. The sign detection unit captures images of no-entry signs and determines whether the vehicle has passed between them, providing a visual reference that compensates for the several meters GPS error. This intermediary detection method allows accurate entry determination even when GPS position is imprecise.
3Reliability
If only GPS position data is used for entry detection, then the system is simple to operate, but the determination of entry into prohibited roads becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges GPS position detection (simple) with image-based sign detection (complex) to achieve reliable entry detection. The position detection unit uses GPS data to identify potential entry prohibited roads, while the sign detection unit uses image processing to confirm actual entry. This combination maintains operational simplicity for the driver while improving detection reliability through multiple detection mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An entry detection apparatus includes a position detection unit that detects presence of an entry prohibited road ahead of a vehicle based on a position of the vehicle and map data including information showing, for each road section, whether the road section is an entry prohibited road section, a sign detection unit that detects whether or not a pair of no-entry signs are present on both sides of a running course of the vehicle based on an image captured by an image sensor mounted on the vehicle, and determines whether or not the vehicle has passed between the no-entry signs, and an entry determination unit that determines that the vehicle has entered the entry prohibited road if the position detection unit detects presence of the entry prohibited road, and the sign detection unit determines that the vehicle has passed between the no-entry signs.