Researchers from Jena have developed an affordable, highly effective infrared camera, specifically designed for use in autonomous vehicles. The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) showcased this innovative infrared camera at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg.
For road users in the Northern Hemisphere, the onset of darker mornings and evenings, often accompanied by mist or fog, necessitates increased caution due to deteriorating visibility conditions. Thermal imaging cameras that can reliably detect individuals under poor or limited visibility conditions are crucial for enhancing safety. This is especially pertinent for autonomous vehicles, where continuous human observation is absent.
A team from IOF has engineered an affordable thermal imaging camera tailored for road traffic applications. This advanced infrared camera operates within the 8 to 14 µm wavelength range, which corresponds precisely to the thermal radiation emitted by humans, detectable both day and night.
“This technology can substantially enhance road safety and prevent accidents,” stated Martin Hubold, project manager at IOF. “This improvement is achieved by augmenting conventional camera systems and sensors, such as lidar or radar, under challenging visibility conditions, without necessitating active illumination.”
The individual image segments are combined by software into a large overall image with a resolution of about 530 × 210 pixels over a field of view of 34 × 13 degrees. The sensors are equipped with a catadioptric optics system, comprising mirrors and prisms. This allows for a flat design of just 10 mm. In cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT) in Itzehoe, scalable and cost-effective lithographic methods were used for its production.
The camera features fast optics (ƒ/1.1) and high angular resolution (16 pixels/degree). The infrared camera has a wide horizontal field of view to detect pedestrians or cyclists under poor lighting conditions, such as darkness or glare from oncoming traffic, making it suitable for driver assistance systems and L3-and-above AVs.
In addition to its use in autonomous vehicles, the infrared camera also offers various applications. These include detecting heat losses, safety applications for monitoring landfills, during fire department operations, and new concepts in industrial process monitoring.
DVN comments
Deploying multiple small, uncooled, cost-effective bolometer arrays for the Far Infrared spectrum (8 to 14 microns) could create a high-resolution image with adapted software. However, integrating these in the bumper area or on the roof may be challenging.