Abstract: A method of automatically detecting objects in front of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of pre-storing template objects representing possible objects in front of the motor vehicle, detecting images from a region in front of the vehicle by a vehicle mounted imaging means, generating a processed image containing disparity or vehicle-to-scene distance information from the detected images, comparing the pre-stored template objects with corresponding regions-of-interest of the processed image, and generating a match result relating to the match between the processed image and the template objects. Each of the pre-stored template objects is a flat two-dimensional multi-pixel area of predetermined shape.

Abstract: A vision method for automatically detecting objects in front of a motor vehicle, comprises the steps of detecting images from a region in front of the vehicle by a vehicle mounted imaging means; generating from said detected images a processed image, containing disparity or vehicle-to-scene distance information; comparing regions-of-interest of said processed image to template objects relating to possible objects in front of the motor vehicle; calculating for each template object a score relating to the match between said processed image and the template object; and identifying large scores of sufficient absolute magnitude of said calculated scores. The vision method further comprises the steps of applying an algorithm adapted to identify groups of said large scores, and assigning an identified group of large scores to a single match object.

Abstract: A method of automatically detecting objects in front of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of pre-storing template objects representing possible objects in front of the motor vehicle, detecting images from a region in front of the vehicle by a vehicle mounted imaging means, generating a processed image containing disparity or vehicle-to-scene distance information from the detected images, comparing the pre-stored template objects with corresponding regions-of-interest of the processed image, and generating a match result relating to the match between the processed image and the template objects. Each of the pre-stored template objects is a flat two-dimensional multi-pixel area of predetermined shape.