Smart driving is one of the hottest research topics and a hotbed for cutting-edge technologies such as thermal imaging, as efforts are constantly being made to take performance to the next level. Thermal imaging can truly provide the automotive industry with the ability to guarantee absolute safety when combined with infrared sensors and artificial intelligence (especially deep learning), a type of artificial intelligence in which machines self-learn under supervised conditions.
Infrared thermal imaging technology is able to defy interference and is widely used in autonomous driving, in-vehicle assistance and specialty vehicles with the following features.
Ultra long range of vision, breaking through the night barrier
Intelligent algorithms, automatic identification of alarms
Anti-glare interference, rain, snow, haze, sand and dust and other harsh environment applications
Reliable and stable
High-speed data transmission
Self-driving cars will be equipped with a large number of complementary sensors that can accurately capture the surrounding environment, including radar, LIDAR, and ultrasonic sensors, as well as visible, near-infrared, and thermal cameras. Thermal sensors can accurately generate clear thermal images of stationary and moving objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, especially vulnerable road users. The AI system can then identify, classify, and recognize different objects in the image, including pedestrians, animals, debris, and more. When this information is combined with data from other sensors and networked with other types of AI systems, vehicles can do more than just recognize objects. Intelligent night vision cameras cars can understand exactly what is happening around them and plan their response by evaluating the situation and considering various options. They can reliably change their route based on the decisions made.
The infrared assisted driving system with an infrared thermal imaging chip detects at a longer distance and also recognizes the type of object being detected - a person, an animal, or an inanimate obstacle. The car ir camera minimizes the impact of glare and provides clear images in all environmental and lighting conditions (fog, smoke, day, night, etc.). Infrared thermography has also been applied in the field of in-vehicle smart cockpits to sense the activity status of drivers and passengers, for example, to manage the vehicle HVAC system, adjusting the air conditioning temperature, seat heating, and interior ventilation accordingly to ensure a comfortable drive for the in-vehicle occupants.
Only thermal sensors can detect the natural thermal characteristics of an object by passively receiving its radiation. They can convert the waves into electrical signals and then convert them into images. This explains why infrared technology can "see" at night and even when the weather gets worse (rain, snow, fog, etc.) because it does not require an external light source. Infrared waves are also more resistant to attenuation by the surrounding environment.
Multi-sensor fusion of autonomous driving solutions is the inevitable trend of future automotive development, integrated infrared detectors of infrared thermal imaging equipment due to the ability to detect heat and therefore particularly suitable for distinguishing between pedestrians and other inanimate obstacles, with other sensors do not have the advantage of not being affected by the rain, fog and haze and lighting conditions, the observation of the distance up to a few hundred meters, the future will be in the field of automated driving to take over a place.
Special vehicles generally refer to special duties and special vehicle license plates, installation and use of sirens and sign lamps and lanterns of the vehicle. Such as ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, and engineering rescue vehicles. Special vehicles usually travel day and night, driving road conditions are also more complex, infrared assisted driving technology is not afraid of darkness, can improve the visibility of special vehicles in all types of weather and lighting environments, early detection of obstacles in the distance and as early as possible to make driving judgments, to ensure that the special vehicles safe driving.
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