What Is an Onboard Camera?
Onboard cameras are devices typically installed in automobiles to capture images and data while driving.
These cameras come in various forms and functions, primarily aimed at enhancing driving safety and situational awareness around the vehicle. Some advanced models also offer driver assistance features like obstacle detection, lane departure warnings, and automatic parking assistance.
Therefore, onboard cameras are crucial for vehicle safety and play a significant role in advancing automated driving technologies. For designers and purchasers in the automotive industry, selecting and integrating the appropriate onboard camera is vital for developing next-generation vehicles.
Uses for Onboard Cameras
Given their functionality and versatility, onboard cameras have become integral to modern automobiles, serving in various applications.
1. Parking Assistance
Parking, a challenging aspect of driving, is made less stressful with onboard cameras. They provide rear and top views, aiding drivers in accurately judging distances to surrounding obstacles.
2. Accident Recording
An onboard camera serves as a reliable tool for documenting accidents or collisions, offering valuable evidence for insurance claims or police reports. Its footage is often crucial in determining the cause and responsibility of an incident.
3. Driving Record
These cameras also help record daily driving, useful for analyzing and improving driving habits or providing evidence during specific incidents or disputes.
4. In-Vehicle Surveillance
Beyond driving assistance, onboard cameras are used for in-vehicle surveillance to deter theft and record behavior within cabs and delivery industries, as well as monitor passengers in shared vehicles.
5. As Part of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)
An onboard camera can be an essential component of ADAS, supporting features like lane departure warnings, forward collision alerts, and pedestrian detection. These systems aim to augment driver reaction times and prevent accidents.
Principles of Onboard Cameras
Onboard camera systems are categorized into monocular and stereo systems.
1. Monocular Camera System
A monocular system uses a single camera to estimate distances to objects based on image coordinates. Despite being cost-effective and compact, these cameras traditionally had a higher margin of error, which has been reduced with advances in image processing technology.
2. Stereo Camera Method
Stereo systems utilize two cameras for object recognition, employing triangulation to measure distances and create a three-dimensional view of the scene. This process includes pre-processing, image transformation, matching to estimate disparity (using methods like SGM and SAD), and triangulation.
Types of Onboard Cameras
The functionality and application of onboard cameras dictate their variety. Key types include:
1. Front Camera
Located at the vehicle’s front, it expands the forward field of view, detecting obstacles, lanes, traffic signals, and pedestrians, thereby informing the driver.
2. Rear View Camera
Placed at the rear, it captures conditions behind the vehicle, improving safety during parking by offering views not visible in the rearview mirror.
3. Side View Camera
Mounted on the vehicle’s sides, it covers blind spots, enhancing visibility during lane changes or at intersections.
4. All-Round Camera System
A combination of multiple cameras around the vehicle provides a 360-degree view, facilitating parking and maneuvering in tight spaces.