Wide dynamic range vision sensor for autonomous vehicles

The dynamic range insufficiency of conventional video cameras is an important problem in realizing robust vision systems for autonomous vehicles. To solve the problem, a method for expanding the dynamic range of video cameras by combining the images taken under different exposure conditions has been developed. Also, a trial vision sensor with a wide dynamic range has been manufactured using the method. A dynamic range of 1/spl times/10/sup 4/ was obtained by the developed sensor. The resolution, frame rate and sensitivity of the developed sensor are almost the same as those of conventional video cameras. The effectiveness of the method has been confirmed by an experiment under various lighting conditions.