QinetiQ is currently working with several of the automotive sectors leading Tier-1 and OEM suppliers to integrate its newly developed low-cost 3-D cameras into future vehicle designs. QinetiQ's novel cameras would meet a number of spatial sensing requirements - which could ultimately lead to all cars being able to self-park.
Initially, a camera will be integrated into each of the four main light clusters to provide highly accurate sensory information for a radius of roughly five metres around the vehicle. In addition to providing accurate information on obstacles like bollards or even low kerbs when manoeuvring at low speeds, they could also help with lane detection when a vehicle is moving at speed and even illuminate vehicle blind spots.
QinetiQ's current generation of 3-D cameras are capable of capturing data from over 1000 individual points on an object with a range accuracy of 0.25mm, across a wide field of view and with a working range of between 200mm and 2m. Future variants should be able to capture data from almost 5000 points and have working range of over 5m to centimetre accuracy.
When mass-produced each unit should cost well below £30. The devices are exceptionally compact, so have low power consumption and can operate in real-time with local processing of data. Only the required warning is sent to the dashboard and QinetiQ's cameras offer the prospect of low-cost practical applications.
"Existing 'bumper-sensors' can be expensive and have limitations as they can miss low or thin objects," explained John Bannister, QinetiQ's Optical Technologies Business Manager.
"What's more, the spatial properties of our 3-D camera lends itself to a host of other applications that drivers would find beneficial and the low unit cost should mean that they should have mass-market appeal. These will not be confined to the luxury vehicle market. Ultimately, QinetiQ's cameras could be integrated with other on-board systems and enable a vehicle to park itself or get out of tight parking spots. We want to make bumper grazes a thing of the past!"
Other applications for QinetiQ's passive 3-D camera technology include hi-resolution data mapping of the face or body for security and access control, capturing product surfaces for the engineering and manufacturing sectors plus several uses in computer gaming, including as a 3-D WebCam. Considerable interest has also been shown by the retail clothing and footwear sectors to help achieve better garment selection and fit. Commercial applications are expected to start appearing on the high street within the next 12-months.
QinetiQ's 3D cameras originates in work for the UK Ministry of Defence to improve range mapping and target identification capabilities, whilst ensuring that ranging technologies are difficult to detect through use of low power or passive systems. |
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