Intelligent observation |
potential scope of ToF goes way beyond these sort of tasks , |
Besides full controllability and data processing , intelligent observability is one of the prerequisites to enable a car to take action on its own . To attain the objective of full observability cars will need to process a wide variety of parametric data - including speed , current , pressure , temperature , positioning , proximity detection , gesture |
however , and it will be pivotal in more sophisticated driver automation as this is developed . ToF cameras will be able to map a driver ’ s entire upper body in 3D , so that it can be ascertained whether the driver ’ s head position is facing the road ahead and whether their hands are placed on the wheel . |
recognition , etc . In terms of proximity detection and |
3D mapping of the traffic situation |
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gesture recognition , great strides have been made over recent years , with ultrasonic sensors and time-of-flight
( ToF ) cameras now starting to be implemented into vehicles .
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Today ’ s adaptive cruise control systems utilise radar to measure the distance to the vehicle in front . This technology performs well enough on motorways , but in an urban environment - where distances are shorter and |
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Ultrasonic sensors
As automation in vehicles progresses , we are not only seeing new technologies being applied to the automotive sector for the first time , but we are also witnessing the adaptation of mature automotive technologies to the special requirements that autonomous driving will mandate . At the moment , ultrasonic sensors are typically mounted into vehicle bumpers for assisted parking systems . So far , such sensors are only expected to function at a driving speed of less than 10 km / hour and they are not able to measure small distances with 100 % accuracy . In an autonomous car , however , such sensors could potentially be used in combination with radar , cameras and other sensing technologies to provide distance measuring functionality .
Gesture recognition
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pedestrians / vehicles can also approach from other directions - more precise position measurement is needed .
One solution is to add a camera for better determination of perspective . However , current image processing hardware is nowhere near good enough to detect all the important features with the necessary speed and reliability to ensure safe driving . This is where lidar seems destined to prove advantageous .
Lidar works according to the same principle as radar and is based on measurement of the reflection of a transmitted signal . While radar relies on radio waves , lidar makes uses of light beams ( e . g . laser ). The distance to the object or surface is calculated by measuring the time that elapses between the transmission of a pulse and when a reflection of that pulse is received . The big advantage of lidar is that the technology enables much smaller objects to be detected than is possible with radar . In contrast to a
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While ultrasonic sensor technology is used to observe the |
camera , which views its environment in focal planes , lidar |
outside world , ToF cameras are focused on the car interior . |
delivers an accurate , relatively detailed 3D rendering . |
As the transition to autonomous driving will be a gradual |
Through this it is easy to isolate objects from what is in |
one , it is important that drivers can switch from |
front of them or behind them , regardless of the lighting |
autonomous mode back to manual mode in specific |
conditions ( day or night ). As the price points associated |
scenarios . Currently cars are only partially autonomous , |
with lidar technology gradually lower , and further |
through use of their ADAS mechanisms , but human |
technological progression is made , the impetus for |
involvement can potentially be required at any moment . |
following this approach will increase . |
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We expect the industry to advance towards greater levels of automation in the coming years , but even then the driver will still need to be able to take control in certain circumstances ( e . g . when the car is in city centres ). It will be a considerable length of time before this changes . Until that point a vehicle will need to be able to alert its driver .
Therefore , real-time monitoring of the driver ’ s position and movements is crucial .
Although still in its initial phases , ToF technology is already being employed today , such as to make drivers aware when
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The next generation sensors that are now being developed will ultimately define the autonomous driving experience that is being envisaged .
Through innovation in the areas outlined in this article , the cars of tomorrow will be providing a clear , constantly updated picture of what is happening , both in relation to the external environment and in terms of what their occupants are doing too . Sensing technologies therefore hold the key to the future of the automotive industry .
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they suffer a lapse in concentration and cause the vehicle | |
to drift towards the edge of the road . It also enables | |
different functions to be carried out based on gesture | |
recognition - for example , via hand swipes to increase the | |
radio volume or to answer an incoming phone call . The | |