Vehicle Window Damage Detection via Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle sensors do not effectively provide all necessary information for generating accurate route guidance and automated vehicle controls, particularly in scenarios involving window damage indicators.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize image data from vehicle cameras to determine and predict window damage indicators, supplementing existing sensor data and providing information on the type and location of damage, which can be used to update geographic databases and provide alerts and route guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing vehicle sensors are used, then basic navigation and location services can be provided, but accurate route guidance and automated vehicle controls in scenarios involving window damage indicators cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces image data from vehicle cameras as an intermediary information source to detect window damage indicators. This intermediary data complemented by processing circuitry analyzes images to identify road debris, construction zones, and other hazards that could cause window damage, thereby resolving the information loss problem without replacing existing sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The processing circuitry performs multiple functions by utilizing image data from existing vehicle cameras for both general navigation purposes and specifically for detecting window damage indicators. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve reliability for automated vehicle controls while avoiding the need for separate dedicated sensors
2Loss of information
If image data collection and analysis systems are added, then window damage indicator detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing vehicle cameras and processing circuitry for multiple purposes, including both standard navigation functions and window damage indicator detection. By making the existing components multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still improving detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The processing circuitry utilizes image data that is already being collected by the vehicle's existing camera system for self-service purposes. The system reuses available computational resources and data streams to perform window damage detection without requiring entirely new independent detection systems, thus minimizing additional complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and user interface for a vehicle window damage detection system comprising obtaining image data of at least one vehicle window and determining a window damage indicator based on the obtained image data, identifying one or more road segments, and associating the determined window damage indicator with one or more identified road segments to update a map layer of a geographic database.