Abstract: Method of detecting and overcoming degradation of image quality during a weather event and activation of windshield wipers. The method takes a high-contrast region of interest (ROI) of an image captured by a camera of a vehicle vision system, applies a Laplacian Operator that focuses on the pixel level in the ROI, and calculates a variance of the Laplacian. Images having an ROI below a predetermined variance threshold are classified or flagged as a low-quality image. Once a low-quality image is flagged, the camera settings can be readjusted in a feedback loop to compensate for the loss in quality of the captured image. This method may be stored as a software routine and implemented by a vision control module of the vision system.

Abstract: A perception system for a motor vehicle includes a camera with a lens having a field of view and configured to focus incident light from the field of view. The field of view includes a road having a road surface. The perception system also includes an imaging sensor arranged in the camera. The imaging sensor has a photosensitive surface defined by an imaging surface area configured to capture the incident light focused from the field of view. A first portion of the imaging surface area is configured to capture an image of the road. The perception system further includes a first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface.

Abstract: A perception system for a motor vehicle includes a camera with a lens having a field of view and configured to focus incident light from the field of view. The field of view includes a road having a road surface. The perception system also includes an imaging sensor arranged in the camera. The imaging sensor has a photosensitive surface defined by an imaging surface area configured to capture the incident light focused from the field of view. A first portion of the imaging surface area is configured to capture an image of the road. The perception system further includes a first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface.

Abstract: A self-cleaning sensor system of a motor vehicle includes an object sensor having a lens surface facing a region located external to the motor vehicle. The object sensor generates a signal associated with an image or a video of the region. The system further includes multiple lens treatment devices for applying remedies for removing an obscurity formed on the lens surface. The system further includes a computer having one or more processors and a computer readable medium storing instructions. The processor is programmed to determine a classification of the obscurity, in response to the processor receiving the signal from the object sensor. The processor is further programmed to generate an actuation signal, and the associated lens treatment device applies the remedy, in response to the associated lens treatment device receiving the actuation signal from the processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a position of a lens of a camera of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing, in a data storage device, a first lens position associated with the lens of the camera; receiving, by a processor, sensor data generated by at least one sensor of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, a desire for a change in lens position based on the sensor data; selecting, by the processor, the camera from a plurality of cameras of the vehicle based on the desire for change in lens position; determining, by the processor, a second lens position based on conditions associated with the desire for the change in lens position and the first lens position; and generating, by the processor, control data to control the position of the lens based on the second lens position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for real-time adjustment of image quality parameters. The system includes a controller configured to: acquire an image frame, having a fixed-pixel region that defines a region-of-interest, from one or more imaging devices; apply image processing techniques to determine a modified fixed-pixel region that excludes non-relevant object pixels; alter one or more image quality parameters based on statistics of pixels in the modified fixed-pixel region; and provide the altered one or more image quality parameters to the one or more imaging devices for use with subsequent image frames; wherein the one or more imaging devices produce an image that is tuned, based on the altered one or more image quality parameters, to the portions of the image in the region-of-interest that does not include the non-relevant object pixels.

Abstract: Method of detecting and overcoming degradation of image quality during a weather event and activation of windshield wipers. The method takes a high-contrast region of interest (ROI) of an image captured by a camera of a vehicle vision system, applies a Laplacian Operator that focuses on the pixel level in the ROI, and calculates a variance of the Laplacian. Images having an ROI below a predetermined variance threshold are classified or flagged as a low-quality image. Once a low-quality image is flagged, the camera settings can be readjusted in a feedback loop to compensate for the loss in quality of the captured image. This method may be stored as a software routine and implemented by a vision control module of the vision system.

Abstract: A camera of a vehicle has a field of view. A perception module of the vehicle is configured to determine a location of an object relative to the vehicle based on a model for the camera and a camera ground truth orientation of the camera. A calibration module is configured to: wirelessly receive images from the camera; determine a vehicle camera target based on the images; when the vehicle camera target is aligned with a calibration module target on the calibration module, determine a present orientation of the calibration module measured using a gyroscope of the calibration module; when at least one component of the present orientation of the calibration module is different than the at least one component of an expected orientation of the calibration module, determine an updated camera ground truth orientation of the camera; and wirelessly transmit the updated ground truth orientation to the vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect features external to the vehicle, an HMI configured to signal an alert to an operator of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the HMI, and is in communication with a non-transient computer-readable storage medium provided with a road furniture database. The road furniture database includes a plurality of items of road furniture having associated road furniture geolocations and road furniture classifications. The controller is configured to, in response to the vehicle being proximate a respective road furniture geolocation for a respective item of road furniture and the sensor not detecting the respective item of road furniture, control the HMI to signal an alert.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect features external to the vehicle, an HMI configured to signal an alert to an operator of the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the HMI, and is in communication with a non-transient computer-readable storage medium provided with a road furniture database. The road furniture database includes a plurality of items of road furniture having associated road furniture geolocations and road furniture classifications. The controller is configured to, in response to the vehicle being proximate a respective road furniture geolocation for a respective item of road furniture and the sensor not detecting the respective item of road furniture, control the HMI to signal an alert.

Abstract: A system and method of enabling or disabling vehicle features based on vehicle location, wherein the method includes: receiving a localized geographical vehicle feature map at the vehicle from a remote server, wherein the localized geographical vehicle feature map includes geographical vehicle feature map data, wherein the geographical vehicle feature map data includes geographical regions associated with vehicle feature data that indicates whether one or more vehicle features are enabled and/or disabled; monitoring vehicle location; based on the monitoring of the vehicle location, determining that the vehicle is located within or approaching a particular geographical region of the geographical regions included in the localized geographical vehicle feature map; determining at least one vehicle feature associated with the particular geographical region based on accessing the localized geographical vehicle feature map; and enabling and/or disabling the at least one vehicle feature based on information contained

Abstract: A system and method of enabling or disabling vehicle features based on vehicle location, wherein the method includes: receiving a localized geographical vehicle feature map at the vehicle from a remote server, wherein the localized geographical vehicle feature map includes geographical vehicle feature map data, wherein the geographical vehicle feature map data includes geographical regions associated with vehicle feature data that indicates whether one or more vehicle features are enabled and/or disabled; monitoring vehicle location; based on the monitoring of the vehicle location, determining that the vehicle is located within or approaching a particular geographical region of the geographical regions included in the localized geographical vehicle feature map; determining at least one vehicle feature associated with the particular geographical region based on accessing the localized geographical vehicle feature map; and enabling and/or disabling the at least one vehicle feature based on information contained