Drivers Drivers equipped equipped with with the complete the complete Intel-NTU Intel-NTU system system can be can alerted be alerted if a car if aiscar breaking is breaking quickly quickly in front in front of them of them by taking by taking advantage advantage of the of the system’s system’s built-in built-in tracking tracking technology. technology. This means This means that communication that communication with the withcar theincar front in front is notis not necessary. necessary. “Assuming “Assuming that the thatcar theincar front in front wasn’t wasn’t broadcasting broadcasting its speed,” its speed,” Healey Healey explained, explained, “If “If the car theincar back in back had stereo had stereo cameras cameras and LIDAR, and LIDAR, it it couldcould use the use stereo the stereo cameras cameras for object for object detection. detection. The object The object detection detection would would allowallow recognition recognition that the thatobject the object is a car. is aThe car.2D The LIDAR 2D LIDAR couldcould tracktrack the depth, the depth, and so and infer so the inferfront the front car’s car’s velocity.” velocity.” Based Based on the onsensor the sensor data data from from that car, that the car,car the car couldcould warn warn the driver the driver that there that there will be will a collision. be a collision. Next Next StepsSteps The current The current generation generation of theof Intel-NTU the Intel-NTU system system relies relies on theon driver the driver to respond to respond to warnings to warnings communicated communicated by the bydevice. the device. However, However, by sending by sending information information to a human to a human and then and relying then relying on them on them to interpret to interpret and react and react to thetoinformation the information can take can take too long, too long, whichwhich can have can have disastrous disastrous repercussions. repercussions. Rather, Rather, the Intel-NTU the Intel-NTU groupgroup is working is working towards towards a collisiona collisionavoidance avoidance system system that takes that takes advantage advantage of theof the stereo stereo cameras, cameras, the LIDAR, the LIDAR, and decision and decision making making algorithms algorithms to ensure to ensure your car youriscar smart is smart enough enough to to respond respond whenwhen you are younot. are not. “The “The algorithms algorithms can definitely can definitely be made be made robust robust enough enough so that so that the car the can car can makemake a better a better decision decision than you thancan youwith canyour withtwo youreyes,” two eyes,” Healey Healey explained. explained. TheseThese cameras cameras allowallow the human the human to to havehave a much a much widerwider parallax parallax view view in front in front of you of you than than whatwhat your your eyes eyes can provide. can provide. Humans Humans can can only process only process information information from from thesethese two visual two visual sensors—your sensors—your eyes.eyes. “The problem “The problem is thatisI that don’t I don’t havehave eyes in eyes theinback the back of myof head, my head, so I can’t so I can’t see what see what is going is going on behind on behind me. Computers me. Computers are not arelimited not limited in that in way. that way. My My visionvision is that, is instead, that, instead, the car thewill car just will automatically just automatically respond—it respond—it will break will break if a car if agets cartoo getsclose, too close, etc..,”etc..,” said Healey. said Healey.
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As collision As collision avoidance avoidance systems systems are refined, are refined, noticeable noticeable benefits benefits will only will be only seen be seen onceonce therethere is a critical is a critical mass mass of adopters. of adopters. But while But while it canittake can take manymany yearsyears to turn to over turn over a nation’s a nation’s vehicle vehicle fleet, fleet, pressure pressure from the fromgovernment the government couldcould expedite expedite the the process. process. The U.S. Thegovernment U.S. government recently recently announced announced their their plan plan to require to require auto auto makers makers to equip to equip new new vehicles vehicles with collision with collision avoidance avoidance systems systems starting starting in 2017. in 2017. In theInmeantime, the meantime, the Intel-NTU the Intel-NTU group group will continue will continue refining refining their their technology technology as they as they “leverage “leverage whatwhat humans humans are good are good at with at what with what computers computers are good are good at” toat” ensure to ensure safer safer futurefuture for allfor drivers. all drivers.
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Rather, Rather, thethe Intel-NTU Intel-NTU group group is working is working towards towards a a collision-avoidance collision-avoidance system system that that takes takes advantage advantage of of thethe stereo stereo cameras, cameras, thethe LIDAR, LIDAR, andand decision decision making making algorithms algorithms to ensure to ensure your your carcar is smart is smart enough enough to to respond respond when when youyou areare not. not.
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front front reallyreally needs needs to broadcast to broadcast this message this message is a is a radioradio transmitter. transmitter. The car Thebehind car behind simplysimply needs needs a a radioradio receiver receiver and an and algorithm an algorithm that’sthat’s doingdoing the the difference difference of velocity of velocity to inform to inform the driver the driver that the that the car incar front in front is slowing is slowing downdown reallyreally fast and fast Iand need I need to break. to break.