Parallel Processing Architecture Brings Advanced Vision Applications to Today's Cars

By Jens Eltze

February 19, 2007

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Safety continues to be one of the key concerns in automotive design. In addition to keeping drivers and passengers safe, automotive manufacturers are looking for ways to protect people outside the car -- such as bicyclists and pedestrians. While airbags and seat belts are designed to provide protection inside the vehicle, accident avoidance equipment, through applications such as vision-based warning systems, could provide the ultimate solution for protecting lives both inside and out.

Analysis shows that the vast majority of accidents are caused by human error or misjudgment. Automotive electronics that could monitor driving conditions and warn a driver at the onset of a hazardous situation could go a long way in preventing and mitigating human-induced accidents.

When vision-based warning systems for drivers were first introduced, acceptance from consumers was limited, mainly due to high costs and a lack of reliability related to false warnings and such. Systems have improved dramatically in recent years, and new vision systems are now being introduced by companies such as Toyota for its flagship Lexus LS460 (below). Current technologies enable automotive designers to implement robust and powerful recognition algorithms while meeting the stringent power consumption and operation constraints associated with automotive design.

The Challenges: Performance and Power Consumption

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