Does anyone know if Tesla has integrated the pre-existing rear view camera in the autopilot? It seems like it's an extra sensor that could be used in certain cases.
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I seriously doubt it. The rear view cam is an extreme wide angle lens, and beyond a few inches, it's a very distorted image. It's really only good for parking, or possibly the AP being able to alert you that you're about to be rear-ended. 
I seriously doubt it. The rear view cam is an extreme wide angle lens, and beyond a few inches, it's a very distorted image. It's really only good for parking, or possibly the AP being able to alert you that you're about to be rear-ended.
You don't think it's good for blind spot checking, or rather "pre" blind spot checking?
When you're driving, watch the rear view cam and you tell me if you can tell when a car is actually in your blind spot. Cars look much further away than they actually are. For anything AP related like blind spot checking, you really need a 3D view of the space around the car.
Using the rear camera would be an excellent way, in my opinion, to overcome the limited range of the ultrasonic sensors.
Maybe I am ignorant, but I would think that the computer system can overcome the distortions of the fish eye perspective.
Mobileye even mentions a rear camera system on their website: Rear Camera Applications - Mobileye
Maybe I am ignorant, but I would think that the computer system can overcome the distortions of the fish eye perspective.
Mobileye even mentions a rear camera system on their website: Rear Camera Applications - Mobileye
I definitely can tell a car is in my blind spot, in fact that's why I drive with the rear view camera always on. Cars do look further away than they actually are, but that's obvious so you just correct for that.
But the car has blind spot sensors, so it wouldn't need to use the camera to tell that there's a car in the blind spot. I was thinking the camera could be useful to see if a car is coming up fast in the next lane so that it knows to just let him pass before attempting a lane change. If I can adjust my depth perception of the camera based on 'feel' I have to believe a computer can more accurately make those adjustments.
Soolim
Member
I think what would be nice is to have camera under the side mirrors so that MS can have an all around view. I guess the MX should already have it. :wink:
Model X design studio just opened. It appears that it doesn't have a surround camera function. Only extra "toy" compared to the S is ventilated/cooled seats.
Sure they could..or could have. But probably they're not. Never mind the distortion..easily corrected with a transform algorithm. You should be able to easily detect delta positions..am I going to get hit..or is that car in a bad spot. Are those red lights!? Probably not a useful night time camera (infra red is filtered) but it is high def and you can do a lot with that information. I haven't heard about this..but never say never.
MarkS22
Member
There is no question the rear-view video footage can be used in conjunction with MobileEye software to enhance Autopilot. As mentioned previously, adjusting for fish-eye curvature is trivial. It could most definitely help with lane changes (i.e. fast approaching/overtaking cars), rapidly approaching car warnings, and enhancing the current ultrasonic blind spot detection. It could even be used to help with lane guidance. Basically, as a secondary verification that the car is centered in the lane with a completely different lighting angle. (In the case of faded or hard to see lines, the system might want to check the rear camera to ensure the paths continue to match.)
That said, the question is whether the current processing hardware has the cycles to analyzing the footage. We know the front camera will be used for lane detection and it's already used to read speed limit signs. So, there's video analyzing hardware in the car already. The big unknown is if the rear camera can take advantage of this. If I had to guess, I'd assume the processing power is already being maxed out for the forward facing analysis.
That said, the question is whether the current processing hardware has the cycles to analyzing the footage. We know the front camera will be used for lane detection and it's already used to read speed limit signs. So, there's video analyzing hardware in the car already. The big unknown is if the rear camera can take advantage of this. If I had to guess, I'd assume the processing power is already being maxed out for the forward facing analysis.
I retract what I said -- I did some "empirical" testing today, and yes, the rear view can be used for (human) blind spot detection -- but the driver needs to realize that cars in the blind spots in the rear view camera appear to be at least 1.5, if not 2 full car lengths behind the rear end of the Model S, when in fact they are directly in the blind spot.
But in all cases, I could see said "blind spot" cars either in my rear-view or side-view mirrors. So if your mirrors are properly set, you really shouldn't have any blind spots.
But in all cases, I could see said "blind spot" cars either in my rear-view or side-view mirrors. So if your mirrors are properly set, you really shouldn't have any blind spots.
SteveW25561
Member
The current rear view camera is useless with rain splash on it. Other issues with distortion and wide angle can be compensated for with software (assuming enough horsepower which I doubt is currently installed).
Stoneymonster
Active Member
The MobileEye system probably is capable of doing this in hardware. Their whole vision system is based on a custom hardware vision pipeline. Whether it is a suitable camera for the application (and I'm guessing it is not either due to quality/dynamic range or interconnect incompatibility) is another question.
I've suggested this made sense a couple times before. So far no evidence has emerged that Tesla is doing anything of the sort - but the current "final" version of Autopilot to date doesn't make its own lane changes without the user signaling for it, so it doesn't really need the ability I suppose.
Walter
It's not that easy.
1. I doubt it's using the rear camera for TACC.
2. If it's using the rear camera for the mystical autopilot and this mystical autopilot will work in rain, they could have a sensor fusion algorithm which uses the camera when the visibility is good (no rain, to make autopilot EVEN better), or doesn't use the camera (rain/snow/etc., makes the autopilot just OK, but still usable).
Or better yet, anyone with AP and the front camera kit (does anyone have this?) -- The front camera defaults to "on" all the time except when backing up. That would really cause AP to freak out, I'd guess.
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