Abstract: An apparatus including a capture device, an illumination device and a processor. The capture device may be configured to generate pixel data corresponding to an exterior view from a vehicle. The illumination device may be configured to generate light for the exterior view. The processor may be configured to generate video frames from the pixel data, perform computer vision operations on the video frames to detect objects in the video frames and generate a control signal. The objects detected may provide data for a vehicle maneuver. The control signal may adjust characteristics of the light generated by the illumination device. The characteristics of the light may be adjusted in response to the objects detected by the processor. The light from the illumination device may facilitate detection of the objects by the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive pixel data corresponding to an exterior view from a vehicle. The processor may be configured to (a) process the pixel data arranged as video frames, (b) generate video data for a display in response to the video frames, (c) store a plurality of view preferences for the display, (d) determine (i) a current location of the vehicle, (ii) a current status of the vehicle, (iii) a current maneuver being performed, and (iv) which portion of the current maneuver is being performed, and (e) generate an output signal to select a view for the display. Each view preference generally corresponds to one or more of (i) a location, (ii) a vehicle status, (iii) a maneuver, and (iv) a portion of the maneuver, when the maneuver comprises more than one portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive pixel data corresponding to an exterior view from a vehicle. The processor may be configured to (a) process the pixel data arranged as video frames, (b) generate video data for a display in response to the video frames, (c) store a plurality of view preferences for the display, (d) determine (i) a current location of the vehicle, (ii) a current status of the vehicle, (iii) a current maneuver being performed, and (iv) which portion of the current maneuver is being performed, and (e) generate an output signal to select a view for the display. Each view preference generally corresponds to one or more of (i) a location, (ii) a vehicle status, (iii) a maneuver, and (iv) a portion of the maneuver, when the maneuver comprises more than one portion.

Abstract: An apparatus including an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive video frames. The processor may be configured to perform video operations on the video frames to detect objects in the video frames, detect a license plate and a driver of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the video frames, detect a use of an electronic device by the driver and generate a notification signal. The notification signal may comprise data to enable correlating the driver using the electronic device in the vehicle with the license plate. The notification signal may be generated if the use of the electronic device is unauthorized. The processor may comprise a dedicated hardware module configured to perform feature detection to calculate descriptors for determining a likelihood that pixels of the video frames belong to the objects that correspond to the use of the electronic device by the driver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of capture devices and a processor. The plurality of capture devices may each be configured to generate video frames corresponding to an area outside of a vehicle. The processor may be configured to receive the video frames from each of the plurality of capture devices, generate video data for a display in response to the video frames, store a view preference for the display corresponding to (i) a location and (ii) a vehicle status, determine a current location and a current status of the vehicle and generate an output signal to select a view for the display. The output signal may be generated in response to the current location matching the location and the current status matching the vehicle status. The view selected may be determined based on the view preference.

Abstract: An apparatus including a capture device, an illumination device and a processor. The capture device may be configured to generate pixel data corresponding to an exterior view from a vehicle. The illumination device may be configured to generate light for the exterior view. The processor may be configured to generate video frames from the pixel data, perform computer vision operations on the video frames to detect objects in the video frames and generate a control signal. The objects detected may provide data for a vehicle maneuver. The control signal may adjust characteristics of the light generated by the illumination device. The characteristics of the light may be adjusted in response to the objects detected by the processor. The light from the illumination device may facilitate detection of the objects by the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus including an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive video frames. The processor may be configured to perform video operations on the video frames to detect objects in the video frames, detect a license plate and a driver of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the video frames, detect a use of an electronic device by the driver and generate a notification signal. The notification signal may comprise data to enable correlating the driver using the electronic device in the vehicle with the license plate. The notification signal may be generated if the use of the electronic device is unauthorized. The processor may comprise a dedicated hardware module configured to perform feature detection to calculate descriptors for determining a likelihood that pixels of the video frames belong to the objects that correspond to the use of the electronic device by the driver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of capture devices and a processor. The plurality of capture devices may each be configured to generate video frames corresponding to an area outside of a vehicle. The processor may be configured to receive the video frames from each of the plurality of capture devices, generate video data for a display in response to the video frames, store a view preference for the display corresponding to (i) a location and (ii) a vehicle status, determine a current location and a current status of the vehicle and generate an output signal to select a view for the display. The output signal may be generated in response to the current location matching the location and the current status matching the vehicle status. The view selected may be determined based on the view preference.

Abstract: A view monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising four pairs of cameras, a processing unit, a visual display unit, an obstacle detection unit and a signaling unit. The four pairs of cameras may be positioned on a front, rear, and sides of the vehicle and detect images of the same number of areas near the vehicle. The processing unit may be configured to provide a single overall image of the surroundings of the vehicle in response to the images. The visual display unit may display the overall image. The obstacle detection unit may detect obstacles in the overall image. The signaling unit may signal the detected obstacles to the driver.

Abstract: A vision system includes a processor and a plurality of cameras, each of which is configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to select input from different combinations of the plurality of cameras based on a parameter that is associated with at least one of the status of a vehicle and a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A view monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising four pairs of cameras, a processing unit, a visual display unit, an obstacle detection unit and a signaling unit. The four pairs of cameras may be positioned on a front, rear, and sides of the vehicle and detect images of the same number of areas near the vehicle. The processing unit may be configured to provide a single overall image of the surroundings of the vehicle in response to the images. The visual display unit may display the overall image. The obstacle detection unit may detect obstacles in the overall image. The signaling unit may signal the detected obstacles to the driver.

Abstract: A lateral obstacle detection apparatus (1) for a motor vehicle (100), comprising: at least a pair of stereo cameras (2, 3) for acquiring images; a unit (4) for processing the acquired images, a support (6) for the stereo cameras (2, 3), which has an elongated shape and extends prevalently along a pre-established direction (A) that is substantially perpendicular to a surface (P) on which the vehicle rests (100), the stereo cameras (2, 3) being mounted on the support (6) at different heights (h1, h2) relative to the resting surface (P) and comprising coplanar sensors (5) arranged perpendicularly to the resting surface (P).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a convoy of vehicles. The convoy of vehicles including a leader vehicle in communication with a plurality of autonomous follower vehicles. The leader vehicle is configured to receive a first autonomous follower vehicle data and compare the first autonomous follower vehicle data to at least one of a leader vehicle data, a second autonomous follower vehicle data and/or a threshold value. The first autonomous follower vehicle data, the leader vehicle data, the second autonomous follower vehicle data and the threshold value relate to a vehicle performance characteristic.

Abstract: A method for generating a three dimensional grid of terrain includes receiving data representing a three-dimensional point cloud and generating a plurality of slices of the data. The method evaluates the slices using a swarm intelligence algorithm. The method is able to identify both terrain and objects. The terrain can also be identified as traversable terrain.

Abstract: A vision system includes a processor and a plurality of cameras, each of which is configured to be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to select input from different combinations of the plurality of cameras based on a parameter that is associated with at least one of the status of a vehicle and a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus, method for detecting critical areas and a pedestrian detection apparatus using the same are provided. An application of the pedestrian detection system is provided to help limit critical urban environment to particular areas. Contrary to traditional pedestrian detection systems that localize every pedestrians appearing in front of the subject vehicle, the apparatus first finds critical areas from urban environment and performs a focused search of pedestrians. The environment is reconstructed using a standard laser scanner but the subsequent checking for the presence of pedestrians is performed by incorporating a vision system. The apparatus identifies pedestrians within substantially limited image areas and results in boosts of timing performance, since no evaluation of critical degrees is necessary until an actual pedestrian is informed to the driver or onboard computer.

Abstract: A system includes a vehicle management system, and at least a first, a second, and a third video camera in communication with the vehicle management system. The vehicle management system is configured to receive input from a combination of at least two cameras selected from among the first, second, and third video cameras based on an event associated with a vehicle to provide at least a first, a second, and a third visual depth of field.

Abstract: A method for generating a three dimensional grid of terrain includes receiving data representing a three-dimensional point cloud and generating a plurality of slices of the data. The method evaluates the slices using a swarm intelligence algorithm. The method is able to identify both terrain and objects. The terrain can also be identified as traversable terrain.

Abstract: An apparatus, method for detecting critical areas and a pedestrian detection apparatus using the same are provided. An application of the pedestrian detection system is provided to help limit critical urban environment to particular areas. Contrary to traditional pedestrian detection systems that localize every pedestrians appearing in front of the subject vehicle, the apparatus first finds critical areas from urban environment and performs a focused search of pedestrians. The environment is reconstructed using a standard laser scanner but the subsequent checking for the presence of pedestrians is performed by incorporating a vision system. The apparatus identifies pedestrians within substantially limited image areas and results in boosts of timing performance, since no evaluation of critical degrees is necessary until an actual pedestrian is informed to the driver or onboard computer.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a convoy of vehicles. The convoy of vehicles including a leader vehicle in communication with a plurality of autonomous follower vehicles. The leader vehicle is configured to receive a first autonomous follower vehicle data and compare the first autonomous follower vehicle data to at least one of a leader vehicle data, a second autonomous follower vehicle data and/or a threshold value. The first autonomous follower vehicle data, the leader vehicle data, the second autonomous follower vehicle data and the threshold value relate to a vehicle performance characteristic.