More than 3,500 people are killed and 35,000 seriously injured in cars annually in the United Kingdom. Automobile safety is now an actively researched topic and one of the major concerns of the automobile industry, driven partly by increasingly strict regulations on vehicle safety. Mechatronic systems have become central to improving automobile safety on the road. Experimental data from eleven volunteers, each containing 800 samples of infrared, was applied to the tracking algorithm. The thresholded infrared samples were then compared with visual data. Thus it can be said that in-cabin tracking using low-resolution infrared images has been achieved. The system can reliably locate the occupant with an accuracy of +/-15 mm. Although the information received from the infrared sensor is two-dimensional it can give results comparable in accuracy with ultrasonic position sensors or contact based sensors, as the contact based sensors only track position based on seating position of the occupant. In comparison with visual image detection the infrared is far superior in detecting human motion within a wide range of conditions. Use of low resolution thermal imaging for tracking occupant movements is now being developed as a key part of a multi-sensor system to measure drivers' capabilities and limitations of movement. Together with driving task analysis this will help differentiate elderly, disabled or injured people. By identifying limitations or difficulties of a particular person measures may be taken to make their journey safer and easier. A number of other potential applications and benefits of infrared imaging are also being identified as part of this work.
In-cabin occupant tracking using a low-cost infrared system
Fahrzeuginsassenüberwachung mittels 'low-cost' Infrarotsystem
MechRob, Mechatronics and Robotics, 2004 ; 259-264
2004
6 Seiten, 11 Bilder, 21 Quellen
Conference paper
English
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVE VEHICLE CABIN OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM
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