The invention relates to a method for capturing an object (9) in an environmental region (8) of a motor vehicle (1) based on a sequence of images (10, 11) of the environmental region (8), which are provided by means of a camera (4) of the motor vehicle (1), including the steps of: recognizing a first object feature (24) in a first image (10) of the sequence, wherein the first object feature (24) describes at least a part of the object (9) in the environmental region (8), estimating a position of the object (9) in the environmental region (8) based on a predetermined movement model, which describes a movement of the object (9) in the environmental region (8), determining a prediction feature (26) in a second image (11) following the first image (10) in the sequence based on the first object feature (24) and based on the estimated position, determining a second object feature (25) in the second image (11), associating the second object feature (25) with the prediction feature (26) in the second image (11) if a predetermined association criterion is satisfied, and confirming the second object feature (25) as originating from the object (9) if the second object feature (25) is associated with the prediction feature (26).

A method for securing a starting movement of a semi-automated or fully automated vehicle, the vehicle including at least one imaging sensor, which is configured to capture images of a close-up range of the vehicle. A recognition of objects in the close-up range of the vehicle is carried out. A starting movement of the vehicle is prevented if an object has been recognized.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for displaying display information according to a driving environment and a method thereof. The apparatus for displaying display information according to the driving environment according to the present invention includes an input unit receiving driving environment information, a memory in which a program for controlling internal and external displays of a vehicle according to a driving environment is stored, and a processor executing the program, wherein the processor controls to select and project display information according to the driving environment information in an internal screen area and an external screen area according to preset partitioning.

A photo-detection device includes a quench resistor having one terminal connected to a first node, an avalanche photodiode having one terminal connected to a second node, a waveform shaping circuit having an input terminal connected to the other terminal of the quench resistor and the other terminal of the avalanche photodiode, and a switch arranged on a path between the second node and the input terminal of the waveform shaping circuit.

A vehicular driving assist system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driving assist system and viewing forward of the vehicle, the camera capturing image data. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes electronic circuitry and associated software. The electronic circuitry of the ECU includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. The ECU, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of a leading vehicle traveling in front of the equipped vehicle and in the same traffic lane as the equipped vehicle. The ECU, responsive to determining presence of the leading vehicle, determines presence of a pothole in front of the vehicle and in the same traffic lane as the equipped vehicle.

A method for ascertaining a distance between a vehicle and a projection surface, onto which a characteristic light pattern is projected using a headlight of the vehicle, includes detecting, in an image of the characteristic light pattern captured by an image capturing unit, a characteristic structure produced by a first light-producing unit by evaluating a geometric location relationship in the captured image between the trajectory and characteristic structures of a characteristic light pattern that are located in an environment along the trajectory; calculating a point on the ray path that is correlated with a position of the detected characteristic structure on the trajectory in accordance with the transformation rule; and calculating the distance between the vehicle and the projection surface from the calculated point on the ray path.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object in front of a vehicle. In one implementation, an object detecting system includes an image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area, a data interface, and a processing device programmed to compare a first image to a second image to determine displacement vectors between pixels, to search for a region of coherent expansion that is a set of pixels in at least one of the first image and the second image, for which there exists a common focus of expansion and a common scale magnitude such that the set of pixels satisfy a relationship between pixel positions, displacement vectors, the common focus of expansion, and the common scale magnitude, and to identify presence of a substantially upright object based on the set of pixels.

A vehicle ranging system includes a ranging scanner, a ranging data processor, and an object classifier. The ranging scanner may be configured to generate a series of ranging data. The ranging data processor may be configured to apply a scale invariant ranging template to the series of ranging data and determine a difference between the ranging template and the series of ranging data. The object classifier may be configured to identify an object corresponding to the series of ranging data based on the difference between the ranging template and the series of ranging data.

A method for determining a location of a vehicle, the method may include receiving reference visual information that represents multiple reference images acquired at predefined locations; acquiring, by a visual sensor of the vehicle, an acquired image of an environment of the vehicle; generating, based on the acquired image, acquired visual information related to the acquired image, wherein the acquired visual information comprises acquired static visual information that is related to the environment of the vehicle; searching for a selected reference image out of the multiple reference images, the selected reference image comprises selected reference static visual information that best matches the acquired static visual information; and determining an actual location of the vehicle based on a predefined location of the selected reference image and to a relationship between the acquired static visual information and to the selected reference static visual information; and wherein the determining of the actual location of the vehicle is of a resolution that is smaller than a distance between the selected reference image and a reference image that is immediately followed by the selected reference image.

A method and system provide the ability to automatically control a vehicle to avoid obstacle collision. Range data of a real-world scene (including depth data to static objects) is acquired. Positions and velocities of moving objects are acquired. The range data is combined into an egospace representation for pixels in egospace that is specified with respect to a radially aligned coordinate system. An apparent size of the static objects is expanding, in the egospace representation, based on a dimension of the vehicle. A speed of the vehicle is specified. A velocity obstacle corresponding to the moving objects is constructed. A mask is created in the coordinate system and identifies candidate radial paths that will result in a collision between the vehicle and the moving objects. The mask is combined with the egospace representation that is then used to determine a path for the vehicle.