Systems and methods for braking a vehicle based on a detected object
First Claim
1. An object detecting and braking system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle;
a data interface; and
at least one processing device programmed to;
receive the plurality of images via the data interface;
perform a first image analysis based on at least a first image and a second image to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object;
perform a second image analysis based on at least a third image and a fourth image to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, the second image analysis including;
determining a focus of expansion based on the third image and the fourth image, the focus of expansion being a converging point of vectors in a vector field determined from the third image and the fourth image; and
determining a rate of expansion associated with a point in the vector field relative to the focus of expansion by dividing a magnitude of a vector associated with the point by a distance from the point to the focus of expansion;
calculate a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision;
determine that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and
cause the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object and causing a vehicle to brake based on the detection. In one implementation, an object detecting and braking system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle. The system includes at least one processing device programmed to perform a first image analysis to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, and to perform a second image analysis to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object. The processing device is also programmed to calculate a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision, to determine that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and to cause the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
10 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An object detecting and braking system for a vehicle, comprising:
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at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device programmed to; receive the plurality of images via the data interface; perform a first image analysis based on at least a first image and a second image to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object; perform a second image analysis based on at least a third image and a fourth image to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, the second image analysis including; determining a focus of expansion based on the third image and the fourth image, the focus of expansion being a converging point of vectors in a vector field determined from the third image and the fourth image; and determining a rate of expansion associated with a point in the vector field relative to the focus of expansion by dividing a magnitude of a vector associated with the point by a distance from the point to the focus of expansion; calculate a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision; determine that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and cause the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle, comprising:
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a body; at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device programmed to; receive the plurality of images via the data interface; perform a first image analysis based on at least a first image and a second image to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object; perform a second image analysis based on at least a third image and a fourth image to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, the second image analysis including; determining a focus of expansion based on the third image and the fourth image, the focus of expansion being a converging point of vectors in a vector field determined from the third image and the fourth image; and determining a rate of expansion associated with a point in the vector field relative to the focus of expansion by dividing a magnitude of a vector associated with the point by a distance from the point to the focus of expansion; calculate a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision; determine that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and cause the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for detecting an object and braking a vehicle, comprising:
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acquiring, via at least one image capture device, a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle; receiving, via a processing device, the plurality of images; performing, via the processing device, a first image analysis based on at least a first image and a second image to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object; performing, via the processing device, a second image analysis based on at least a third image and a fourth image to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, the second image analysis including; determining a focus of expansion based on the third image and the fourth image, the focus of expansion being a converging point of vectors in a vector field determined from the third image and the fourth image; and determining a rate of expansion associated with a point in the vector field relative to the focus of expansion by dividing a magnitude of a vector associated with the point by a distance from the point to the focus of expansion; calculating, via the processing device, a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision; determining, via the processing device, that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold; and causing, via the processing device, the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification