Vehicle Shadow Removal in Camera Video Feeds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle shadows in camera views can hinder a vehicle operator's ability to see potential obstacles during parking maneuvers, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using computer software to determine the location of the vehicle shadow, select appropriate cameras, and remove the shadow from the image information by processing weather, location, and image data, generating a chromaticity representation, and normalizing illumination to create a shadow-free video feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If vehicle cameras are used to assist parking maneuvers, then the vehicle operator's ability to see the environment is improved, but the vehicle's shadow in the video feed hinders the ability to see potential obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the vehicle shadow from the video feed by processing the image data to identify shadow regions and eliminate them, while preserving the underlying scene information. This allows the operator to see through the shadow to potential obstacles that would otherwise be obscured.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illumination parameters in the video feed by adjusting brightness and contrast in shadow regions, and by using multiple light sources (ambient light, headlights, taillights) to compensate for shadow areas. This parameter adjustment makes shadow regions visible without affecting other parts of the image.
2Loss of information
If shadow removal processing is applied to the video feed, then the clarity of the environment view is improved, but the processing complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the video feed into multiple regions based on shadow detection, processing only the shadow-affected areas rather than the entire image. This reduces computational complexity by focusing processing resources on specific problem regions while leaving other areas unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies shadow removal processing selectively only when shadows are detected in the video feed, rather than continuously processing all frames. This partial action approach reduces overall computational burden while maintaining clarity when needed.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple light sources are used to illuminate shadow regions, then the visibility in shadow areas is improved, but the overall illumination balance and color accuracy of the image may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different illumination adjustments to different regions of the image based on local shadow conditions. Each shadow region receives customized brightness and contrast adjustments tailored to its specific characteristics, while other regions maintain their original illumination properties. This preserves overall illumination balance while improving local visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
One general aspect includes a method to remove a vehicle shadow from image information, the method includes the steps of—determining a location of the vehicle shadow in an environment surrounding the vehicle, (based on the outcome of step) selecting one or more cameras installed on the vehicle, and removing the vehicle shadow from the image information produced by the one or more cameras.