Method for object tracking
First Claim
1. A method for recognizing and tracking of a moving object from a motor vehicle having a camera device arranged thereon, the method comprising:
- taking, using the camera device, images of an environment within a range of view of the camera device at time intervals, said images including picture elements;
identifying for each image, with the aid of an image processing system, the picture elements in the image that correspond to a moving object to be tracked, and extracting a picture element that represents a projection in image coordinates of a spatial point where the object contacts a road plane; and
tracking movement of the spatial point in the road plane using a state estimator that includes an at least four-dimensional state vector comprising a position of the spatial point in the road plane and an associated speed in the road plane;
said tracking comprising the steps of;
generating a prediction for the state vector;
converting the prediction into image coordinates by suitable projection equations;
calculating an error for the prediction in image coordinates by using a covariance matrix; and
comparing the prediction with the picture element extracted in a later image, andupdating the prediction based upon the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for the recognition and tracking of a moving object, in particular of a pedestrian, from a motor vehicle, at which a camera device is arranged. An image of the environment including picture elements is taken in the range of view of the camera device (20) by means of the camera device at regular time intervals and those picture elements are identified with the help of an image processing system which correspond to moving objects to be tracked. A picture element is extracted for each of these objects which represents a projection in image coordinates of that spatial point at which the object contacts a road plane The movement of the corresponding spatial point in the road plane is tracked by means of a state estimator which uses an at least four-dimensional state vector whose components are a position of the spatial point in the road plane and an associated speed in the road plane, wherein the tracking of the movement by the state estimator includes the steps that a prediction is generated for the state vector, this prediction is converted into image coordinates via suitable projection equations, an error to be expected for this prediction is calculated in image coordinates by means of a covariance matrix, and this prediction is compared with the picture element extracted in a later image and is updated.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for recognizing and tracking of a moving object from a motor vehicle having a camera device arranged thereon, the method comprising:
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taking, using the camera device, images of an environment within a range of view of the camera device at time intervals, said images including picture elements; identifying for each image, with the aid of an image processing system, the picture elements in the image that correspond to a moving object to be tracked, and extracting a picture element that represents a projection in image coordinates of a spatial point where the object contacts a road plane; and tracking movement of the spatial point in the road plane using a state estimator that includes an at least four-dimensional state vector comprising a position of the spatial point in the road plane and an associated speed in the road plane;
said tracking comprising the steps of;generating a prediction for the state vector; converting the prediction into image coordinates by suitable projection equations; calculating an error for the prediction in image coordinates by using a covariance matrix; and comparing the prediction with the picture element extracted in a later image, and updating the prediction based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A data processing device comprising a media including computer-readable instructions for recognizing and tracking of a moving object from a motor vehicle having a camera device arranged thereon, said computer-readable instruction being adapted to configure the data processing device to carry out a method comprising:
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taking, using the camera device, images of an environment within a range of view of the camera device at time intervals, said images including picture elements; identifying for each image, with the aid of an image processing system, the picture elements in the image that correspond to a moving object to be tracked, and extracting a picture element that represents a projection in image coordinates of a spatial point where the object contacts a road plane; and tracking movement of the spatial point in the road plane using a state estimator that includes an at least four-dimensional state vector comprising a position of the spatial point in the road plane and an associated speed in the road plane;
said tracking comprising the steps of;generating a prediction for the state vector; converting the prediction into image coordinates by suitable projection equations; calculating an error for the prediction in image coordinates by using a covariance matrix; and comparing the prediction with the picture element extracted in a later image, and updating the prediction based upon the comparison.
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13. An apparatus for the recognition and tracking of a moving object from a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising
a camera device arranged for taking an image, and a data processing device configured to carry out a method comprising: -
taking, using the camera device, images of an environment within a range of view of the camera device at time intervals, said images including picture elements; identifying for each image, with the aid of an image processing system, the picture elements in the image that correspond to a moving object to be tracked, and extracting a picture element that represents a projection in image coordinates of a spatial point where the object contacts a road plane; and tracking movement of the spatial point in the road plane using a state estimator that includes an at least four-dimensional state vector comprising a position of the spatial point in the road plane and an associated speed in the road plane;
said tracking comprising the steps of;generating a prediction for the state vector; converting the prediction into image coordinates by suitable projection equations; calculating an error for the prediction in image coordinates by using a covariance matrix; and comparing the prediction with the picture element extracted in a later image, and updating the prediction based upon the comparison.
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Specification