Vehicle Exterior Environment Recognition Using Monocular and Distance Image Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle exterior environment recognition systems face difficulties in early and stable detection of pedestrians due to their smaller size and unstable behavior, often resulting in delayed collision avoidance controls and potential abrupt actions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle exterior environment recognition apparatus that utilizes monocular recognition based on luminance images to identify three-dimensional object regions, correlating them with distance images to determine specific parts like pedestrians, allowing for early and precise detection by combining luminance and distance information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If monocular recognition based on luminance images is used to detect pedestrians, then the detection range is extended, but the detection precision and stability deteriorate due to the small size and unstable behavior of pedestrians
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines luminance images from a luminance image capturing unit with distance images from a distance image capturing unit to create a composite image. This merging allows the system to leverage both the wide detection range of luminance images and the precise depth information from distance images, thereby maintaining detection precision while extending detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces distance information as an additional dimension to the traditional luminance-based detection. By correlating luminance images with distance images, the system transforms two-dimensional luminance data into three-dimensional spatial understanding, enabling more accurate detection of pedestrians regardless of their size or behavior stability.
2Device complexity
If monocular recognition is used for pedestrian detection, then the system complexity is reduced, but the collision avoidance control stability deteriorates due to delayed and inaccurate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges luminance image capturing and distance image capturing into a unified detection system. By processing both image types simultaneously and correlating them, the system achieves stable and accurate pedestrian detection without significantly increasing overall system complexity, as both image streams are integrated into a single detection pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a distance image as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between simple luminance detection and complex stereo vision. The distance image provides intermediate depth information that enhances detection stability without requiring full stereo processing, thus maintaining reasonable system complexity while improving control reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If only luminance images are used for object detection, then the image processing simplicity is maintained, but the position and speed identification precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the distance dimension to traditional luminance image processing. By correlating luminance images with distance images, the system transforms simple two-dimensional image processing into three-dimensional spatial processing, significantly improving position identification precision while maintaining relatively simple processing through the use of distance correlation techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle exterior environment recognition apparatus includes a three-dimensional object region identifier and a specific part identifier. The three-dimensional object region identifier identifies a three-dimensional object region by monocular recognition based on a luminance image. The three-dimensional object region includes a three-dimensional object. The luminance image is generated by an image capturing unit that captures an image of vehicle exterior environment. The specific part identifier correlates the three-dimensional object region with a distance image, to identify a specific part of the three-dimensional object region on the basis of distance information. The distance image is generated from the luminance image. The distance information is calculated on the basis of the distance image.