A wide angle vision sensor with high distortion lens-detection of camera location and gaze direction based on two-parallel-line algorithm

The authors have conducted research into a vision sensor system which is functionally similar to the human eye. We have designed and manufactured a special lens to realize this function. The lens system provides an extensive 120 degree visual field, optically enlarging the image in the central area and compressing it in the peripheral area. In this paper, the authors propose a new method to detect a camera's location and gaze direction based on two parallel boundary lines of a road projected in the peripheral area, and show that it works precisely and efficiently. Subsequently, we apply this method to a curved road and compare the location detected from the boundary lines with the actual camera location, establishing that there is reasonable agreement between the two.