Windshield Localization via Geometric Feature Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Current image-based automatic enforcement methods for managed lanes are ineffective due to the variability in windshield placement within captured images, making it difficult to accurately identify and classify vehicle occupancy configurations, thus requiring a more precise localization of the windshield region.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of feature-based image analysis that utilizes prior knowledge of geometric and spatial relationships to identify and localize the windshield within an image, allowing for efficient detection of violations in HOV/HOT lane requirements by cropping the image to the region of interest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If image-based automatic enforcement is used to monitor managed lanes, then enforcement efficiency is improved compared to manual methods, but accuracy deteriorates due to variability in windshield localization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenforcement efficiencyVSAvoidwindshield localization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary windshield localization by identifying geometric features (headlights, grille, hood) and calculating the windshield region before conducting occupancy detection. This preliminary action of cropping the image to the localized windshield region ensures that subsequent occupancy analysis is performed on the correct area, resolving the localization accuracy problem while maintaining enforcement efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The enforcement system is divided into distinct functional modules: vehicle detection, windshield localization (with sub-steps for feature identification and region calculation), and occupancy detection. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, maintaining high productivity while improving measurement precision through specialized processing for each task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the camera field of view is tightly focused on the windshield, then localization accuracy is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because it cannot capture all oncoming cars

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindshield localization accuracyVSAvoidcamera coverage range

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary windshield localization by identifying geometric features (headlights, grille, hood) and calculating the windshield region before conducting occupancy detection. This preliminary action of cropping the image to the localized windshield region ensures that subsequent occupancy analysis is performed on the correct area, resolving the localization accuracy problem while maintaining enforcement efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The enforcement system is divided into distinct functional modules: vehicle detection, windshield localization (with sub-steps for feature identification and region calculation), and occupancy detection. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, maintaining high productivity while improving measurement precision through specialized processing for each task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If feature-based image analysis with geometric relationships is implemented, then processing time is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the approach from pixel-by-pixel analysis to geometric parameter-based localization by identifying key features (headlights, grille, hood) and using their spatial relationships to calculate the windshield region. This parameter change reduces processing time significantly while the modular implementation keeps system complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary windshield localization by identifying geometric features (headlights, grille, hood) and calculating the windshield region before conducting occupancy detection. This preliminary action of cropping the image to the localized windshield region ensures that subsequent occupancy analysis is performed on the correct area, resolving the localization accuracy problem while maintaining enforcement efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8971579B2Windshield localization for occupancy detection

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES LLC

AI summary

A system and method to capture an image of an oncoming target vehicle and localize the windshield of the target vehicle. Upon capturing an image, it is then analyzed to detect certain features of the target vehicle. Based on geometrical relationships of the detected features, the area of the image containing the windshield of the vehicle can then be identified and localized for downstream processing.