Salient feature based vehicle positioning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining a position of a vehicle, said method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of images captured by one or more vision sensors, the one or more vision sensors being movable relative to the vehicle;
selecting, with aid of one or more processors, one or more images from the plurality of images;
determining, based on sensor data received from one or more sensors, a movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle during the one or more images being taken;
generating a saliency map, with aid of the one or more processors processing the one or more images by filtering according to one or more contrast features of the one or more images and compensating the movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle;
measuring, with aid of the one or more processors, a gradient of a gray level for each pixel in one or more portions of the saliency map;
identifying, with aid of the one or more processors, a plurality of stationary salient features in the saliency map according to the gradient, wherein the plurality of stationary salient features are substantially stationary within an environment;
calculating, with aid of the one or more processors, a distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features; and
determining, with aid of the one or more processors, a position of the vehicle based on the distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features.
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Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and computer readable mediums for determining a position of a vehicle are provided. Imaging devices may be coupled to movable objects, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). One or more images may be captured by an imaging device, such as a camera. Salient features within the one or more images may be determined. A distance from the vehicle to the salient features may be calculated and a position of the vehicle may be determined.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining a position of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of images captured by one or more vision sensors, the one or more vision sensors being movable relative to the vehicle; selecting, with aid of one or more processors, one or more images from the plurality of images; determining, based on sensor data received from one or more sensors, a movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle during the one or more images being taken; generating a saliency map, with aid of the one or more processors processing the one or more images by filtering according to one or more contrast features of the one or more images and compensating the movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle; measuring, with aid of the one or more processors, a gradient of a gray level for each pixel in one or more portions of the saliency map; identifying, with aid of the one or more processors, a plurality of stationary salient features in the saliency map according to the gradient, wherein the plurality of stationary salient features are substantially stationary within an environment; calculating, with aid of the one or more processors, a distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features; and determining, with aid of the one or more processors, a position of the vehicle based on the distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
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15. An apparatus for determining a position of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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one or more vision sensors configured to capture a plurality of images and being movable relative to the vehicle; and one or more processors individually or collectively configured to; select one or more images from the plurality of images; determine, based on sensor data received from one or more sensors, a movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle during the one or more images being taken; process the one or more images by filtering according to one or more contrast features of the one or more images to generate a saliency map and compensating the movement of the one or more vision sensors relative to the vehicle; measure a gradient of a gray level for each pixel in one or more portions of the saliency map; identify a plurality of stationary salient features in the saliency map according to the gradient, wherein the plurality of stationary salient features are substantially stationary within an environment; calculate a distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features; and determine a position of the vehicle based on the distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 20)
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18. A method of determining a position of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of images captured by one or more vision sensors; selecting, with aid of one or more processors, one or more images from the plurality of images; generating a saliency map, with aid of the one or more processors processing the one or more images by filtering according to one or more contrast features of the one or more images; determining a plurality of stationary salient feature candidates in the saliency map; generating a bounding box for each of the stationary salient feature candidates in the saliency map, the bounding box including a triangle shape and encompassing the corresponding stationary salient feature candidate; measuring, with aid of the one or more processors, a gradient of a gray level for each pixel in the bounding box for each of the stationary salient feature candidates in the saliency map; identifying, with aid of the one or more processors, a plurality of stationary salient features in the saliency map according to the gradient, wherein the plurality of stationary salient features are substantially stationary within an environment; calculating, with aid of the one or more processors, a distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features; and determining, with aid of the one or more processors, a position of the vehicle based on the distance from the vehicle to each of the plurality of stationary salient features.
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Specification