Emergency braking using stereo video
What if a car could see with its own two eyes? Bosch developed a stereoscopic vision system used in cars today that prevents injury from collisions.
Our technology on the road
Emergency braking systems are considered to be among the most effective automobile assistance systems. Bosch introduced a new dual-camera system to “see” in 3D – similar to human eyesight.
We created a first of its kind emergency braking system (EBS) using a stereo video camera in 2014. The system relies solely on camera data, absolving the need for a radar. Land Rover now offers the EBS from Bosch as a standard feature.
72%
preventable portion of rear-end collisions involving personal injury in Germany with emergency braking systems
The EBS prepares to brake when there are obstacles ahead. If the driver does not react, the system triggers an emergency stop. Bosch and Land Rover demonstrated its effectiveness in the Euro NCAP test. In both the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) city and AEB interurban categories, it received a “good” rating. The Land Rover Discovery Sport earned five stars and achieved one of the best results in the Safety Assist category.
Eyes on the vehicle
The stereo camera mimics how we see, determining distance from images of an object as seen by two eyes – known as disparity. It generates a precise 3D map of the surroundings using the stereoscopic images. Temporal changes in the image are tracked via an optical flow.
The method is robust and universal: In contrast to 2D classification, it detects untrained objects.
A smart fusion concept enables a camera to determine the distance, size, and speed of all objects, such as vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists as well as obstacles in and alongside the lane.
The science of safety
The stereo video camera meets the stringent ASIL-B safety standard in accordance with ISO 26262. We use statistical and expert-based analyses of the system to ensure reliability and our Bosch Research team plays a decisive role in producing valid and useful results.
Expanding the reach of image processing
Basic computer vision algorithms not only form the basis for automated driving but are also used in other applications, such as surveillance and robotics. The Computer Vision Research Lab in Hildesheim, Germany coordinates research and advance development for new applications among the relevant working groups.
The development of the stereo video camera is a prime example of how Bosch Research works closely with the divisions to help create a successful product.
Summary
Stereoscopic imaging technology from Bosch is on the road today, preventing injuries from rear-end collisions. Research is being done to expand its use to other fields, like robotics.
