Vehicle Trajectory Overlay Aligned With External Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior driver assistance systems display trajectory lines that appear fixed with respect to the vehicle, making it difficult for users to assess their correspondence with external objects, especially on non-flat terrain, leading to a confusing and unnatural representation of the vehicle's movement.

Innovation Solution

A control system that determines a vehicle trajectory and generates a composite image sequence with a trajectory indicator, moving it in accordance with the vehicle's distance traveled to appear stationary with respect to external objects, providing a more natural and accurate representation of the vehicle's path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If trajectory lines are displayed fixed with respect to the vehicle, then the representation is simple to generate, but the trajectory lines appear to float over the surface and become difficult to assess correspondence with external objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assessing correspondence between trajectory lines and external objectsVSAvoidcomplexity of trajectory indicator positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory indicator is made dynamic by moving it between image frames in dependence on the distance travelled by the vehicle. This transforms the static, vehicle-fixed trajectory display into a dynamic system that adapts to vehicle movement, causing the trajectory indicator to appear stationary with respect to external objects rather than floating over the surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from vehicle movement data (distance travelled) to adjust the position of the trajectory indicator in the composite image sequence. By continuously updating the trajectory indicator's position based on actual vehicle displacement between frames, the system maintains accurate correspondence between the trajectory lines and external objects in the environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If trajectory lines are moved to appear stationary with respect to external objects, then the representation becomes more natural and accurate, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of trajectory representationVSAvoidcomplexity of trajectory indicator positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory indicator transitions from a static to a dynamic element, with its position adjusted between image frames based on vehicle distance travelled. This dynamic positioning ensures the trajectory lines accurately represent the vehicle's path relative to external objects, improving reliability without requiring complex additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or optical systems with a computational approach. Instead of using physical mechanisms to maintain trajectory alignment, the system uses image processing and mathematical calculations to position the trajectory indicator correctly in the composite image sequence, achieving high accuracy through software-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If the trajectory indicator is repositioned between image frames, then correspondence with external objects is improved, but processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accuracy about vehicle position relative to environmentVSAvoidprocessing power required

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs computational image processing methods to reposition the trajectory indicator between frames. By using algorithms that calculate the trajectory indicator's new position based on vehicle movement data and image frame comparisons, the system maintains high information accuracy about vehicle position relative to the environment while avoiding the need for complex mechanical or optical processing systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a composite image sequence that copies and integrates multiple image frames with the trajectory indicator. By generating this composite representation where the trajectory indicator is appropriately positioned in each frame, the system preserves accurate spatial information about the vehicle's path relative to external objects without requiring continuous real-time processing of all raw sensor data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11919513B2Control system, system and method for providing assistance to an occupant of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 JAGUAR LAND ROVER LTD

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention relate to a control system, a system and a method for providing assistance to an occupant of a vehicle. Specifically, the present invention relates to determining a composite image sequence comprising a sequence of image frames, each comprising a captured image of an environment external to the vehicle and a trajectory indicator indicative of the determined vehicle trajectory through that environment. The trajectory indicator is positioned within the composite image sequence in dependence on movement by the vehicle between the time at which images associated with the corresponding image frames are captured such that the trajectory indicator appears substantially stationary in a direction of travel of the vehicle with respect to one or more image objects within the composite image sequence.