Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Binduhasini Sairamesh

David Michael Herman

Akshay Vaidya

Larry Sanders

Vidya Nariyambut Murali

Bruno Sielly Jales Costa

Nikhil Nagraj Rao

A computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor can activate a plurality of light sources in an alternating pattern at an illumination frequency and acquire image data depicting light reflected from an object at a timing corresponding to the alternating pattern at the illumination frequency. In response to variations in the light impinging upon the object from the alternating pattern, an object contour can be determined based on estimating one or more object surface normals based on photometric stereo. One or more of object identity and object depth can be determined based on combining the object contour with the image data.

Object detection

A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to sequentially activate a plurality of lamps aimed at a scene, the lamps mounted to a vehicle; receive image data of the scene generated while sequentially activating the lamps; generate a map of surface normals of the scene by executing a photometric stereo algorithm on the image data; and in response to a speed of the vehicle being below a speed threshold, navigate the vehicle based on the map of the surface normals.

Photometric stereo for vehicle navigation

A vehicle control system includes a camera configured to capture image data depicting a field of view proximate the vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle control system further includes a plurality of light sources in connection with the vehicle and a controller. The controller is configured to activate a plurality of lights in an alternating pattern and capture light reflected from at least one object with the camera at a time and corresponding to the alternating pattern of the plurality of lights. In response to variations in the light impinging upon the at least one object from the alternating pattern, the controller is configured to identify a distance of the object.

Assisted vehicle operation with improved object detection

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to perform visual odometry using a monocular camera. An example apparatus includes a method fusioner to determine a visual odometry method using a surface characterization to calculate first odometry data, a displacement determiner to calculate second odometry data based on sensor information, an odometry calculator to calculate an odometry parameter of a target object with respect to a vehicle based on the first and the second odometry data, and a vehicle command generator to generate a vehicle command based on the odometry parameter.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Binduhasini Sairamesh