Pixel-based texture-less clear path detection

摘要

A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images wherein each image comprises a plurality of pixels, utilizing a texture-less processing scheme to analyze the images including filtering the image to separate portions of the image indicating a clear surface upon which a potential road surface can be estimated from other portions of the image that do not indicate a potential road surface. The clear path is determined based upon the clear surface and the clear path is utilized to operate the vehicle.