Justification Week - 17/04/15

This week, we were tasked to present and justify our choice of sensor which, me and my partner have decided to use a camera-based system.  What is available currently is the Mobileye 560 which has a list price of US$850.  This high price reflects the amount of features it has which include:

- Lane Departure Warning
- Pedestrian Warning
- Frontal Impact Warning

Other aftermarket options have no list price as they are priced upon seeing the application. Therefore using the 560 price as the basis for the average aftermarket lane departure system price example, the group has aimed to build the basic lane departure system at a price of up to $250. We were able to work out a base price for our unit excluding the sensor.  The main group components are as follows:

- Arduino Unit (Uno) - $50.00
- Arduino Housing - $20.00
- Wiring - $12.00
- Buzzer - $3.00
- Super Bright LED x6 - $4.56 @$0.76 each
- Universal Mini Housing (For the HUD) - $10.00

The total price comes to $99.56 for the base unit without the sensor.

Logitech C170

After considering the different sensors available, we have chosen the camera.  A basic Logitech C170 webcam will cost $28.00 brand new and features a 1024x768 video resolution.  This would take the unit total cost to $127.56 which is a little over half of the maximum budget. The choice of this camera was due to the need to have a cost effective camera that can provide responsive and accurate video to be able to pick up lane markings.

Further Exploration on Camera Based Systems - 9/04/15

Today, we discussed our plans of using a camera based system with our technical advisor.  The plan now is to use an Arduino micro-controller to control a camera that utilises facial recognition software to detect lane markings.

The first stage which we will aim to achieve within 2 weeks is to successfully program and demonstrate a camera to detect a selected object.  So far, there is the use of MyRobotLab Java Program, Arduino and OpenCV programs which me and my group mate will further research on.

On other fronts, we also discussed the future considerations when we delve deeper into the research and development.  We need to consider what to do if the vehicle will actually stray off the lane.  A suggestion was that there could be a time delay to keep the warning system actuated should the signal or object tracked (the lane markers) be lost as the vehicle stray.

The other consideration was where to place the cameras to make sure it is durable, is not easily damaged, and can have a good field of vision to detect the lane markings.

The last consideration was to make sure there is a fail-safe mechanism in place should the lane departure system encounter a fault.  This would be especially important if the driver developed an over-reliance of the system.

These considerations will be further looked at and researched in the coming week.

Update On Choice of Sensor/Component - 02/04/15

After narrowing the list of sensors/components to just two, the use of either a camera with facial recognition function or the use of a GPS based system.  After reading and discussing the GPS option with our technical advisor, we felt that the lane departure system we are aiming to build must have a quicker response therefore a more direct component or sensor must be used.

Therefore the use of a facial recognition camera system will be used to detect the lane dividers.  The camera will be programmed to detect the lane dividers instead of the usual face or object.  This, me and my group mate feel would give the lane departure system a better response which will be needed for life and death situations such as straying from the lane while driving.

Initial Research and Presentation - 27/03/15

Upon researching for the initial presentation this week, the task at hand has gotten much clearer.  The lane departure system project will be done in 3 stages.  The first stage is to plan and design a schematic through software programs such as Fritz and Multisim.  The second stage is to produce and build the project in a small scale such as using an remote-controlled vehicle and simulating the experiment.  The last part of the project is to finally implement the project in an actual vehicle to be tested in a controlled setting to prove the concept can work.

Currently, our main struggle is what sensor direction we would take, whether in a camera-based, photo-sensor, inductive sensor, or a GPS based system.  However, after speaking to our technical advisor, we learned a few things with regards to our current shortlist.  The inductive route may work but we have to consider health effects of using such a component because people with pacemakers are not able to have this sort of system in place.

Meanwhile, the GPS-based system had the question of whether it can detect lane to lane departures accurately.  The photo-sensor idea would not be so feasible either because if we used a higher resistance light dependent resistor (LDR), it would change resistances too slowly and will be sluggish.  The lane departure system must be quick in response as its aim is to aid the driver in life or death situations.  Conversely, if a lower rated LDR would be too sensitive to the noise of the environment, picking up many unnecessary signals which render it just as inaccurate as the higher rated LDR.

The likely feasible option currently is to use a camera based system where a facial/object recognition software can be implemented to detect road markings or reflectors.  This could be much more accurate and provide a quicker response to alert the driver should he or she stray from the lane.  More research is currently being conducted in this route.

Meanwhile, other potential sensors have not been ruled out yet as me and my partner are working closely with one of our advisors in sourcing an electrical sensors book that could shed some more light to whether there are more sensors that could be used in this project.

Topic Chosen - 20/03/15

This week, we were tasked with choosing and finalising our technology project as well as choosing our advisors.  With me and my partner's background in Autotronics studies in the Certificate in Applied Technology, we decided to go in the electronics direction.  As such, our choice of advisor will specialise in electronics and engine management. Of the list we made earlier:

• Vehicle reverse alarm system (for gates)
• Vehicle reverse braking system (for gates)
• Universal adaptive spoiler
• GPS controlled speed limiter
• Smartphone activated/controlled windscreen heater
• Lane departure system

We have decided to go with the lane departure system as we see it as the most feasible option in terms of being able to build a working concept as well as being fitting of a level 6 standard of work.