DISTANCE MONITORING VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES USING

IMAGE PROCESSING

A Project Presented to the Faculty of the

College of Engineering and Computer Studies
Saint Michael’s College
Iligan City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In Design Project 1

Jess Krizler I. Jayma

Kate Loise G. Galbinez

August 2019
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS

I. Introduction

We all know that here in the Philippine setting, there are lot of

vehicle accidents happen, according to the latest available data from

the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that the number of

deaths due to road crashes has been increasing since 2006, it also

reveals that since 2010, the number of road crashes never dipped below

8,000. On year 2015, 10,012 people died due to road crashes, which is

the most number of road crash-related deaths of the year, a 45.76%

increase from 6,869 deaths recorded in 2006. [1]

Imagine, thousands of people die each year because of these

incidents happen and lots of them are children or maybe some are 20-

30 years old. There are lots of common cause of road accidents here in

the Philippines, some of it are distracted driving, some people are using

their gadgets while driving, which is totally prohibited here already, as

well as eating food or drinking from a mug or bottle behind the wheel

or maybe they get to sleep, drivers can become distracted also behind

the wheel for a variety of reasons. Also being a reckless driver and over

speeding are the main cause of road accidents here in the Philippines,
people may think that they are kings and queens of the road that’s why

they used to drive harder without thinking that their lives is at risk.[2]

In line with this, the researcher wants to develop the Distance

Monitoring Vision System for Vehicles using Image Processing wherein

the system can help them to reduce much frontal collisions that can be

exerted by driving vehicles.

II. Statement of the problem

This study aims to develop a system that will promote the

Distance Monitoring Vision System For Vehicles using Image

Processing to find the solution of the following problem:

 Drivers are sometimes careless that they would just drive

through without thinking that they might jolt other vehicles.

 Parking vehicles, some drivers will not able to done it

sucessfully for they cannot examine well especially for old

people.

III. Objectives of the study

This study aims to create a vision system for vehicles that would

help all drivers to be more vigilant while driving and to prevent frontal

collisions.

 Drivers will be aware, everytime they drive, to other vehicles

by looking and checking the system.

  The user can estimate and examine the road that they will

not cause any damage especially when it comes on parking.

IV. Scope and Limitation of the study

The Distance Monitoring Vision System, is limited only for

vehicles and will only work when it comes on driving and parking.

V. Significance of the Study.

This phase represents the significance of the study in this project.

This study will give a sufficient contribution to all vehicle drivers

to be more vigilant on how to refrain much frontal collisions, which also

contibute safetiness to all passengers.

Researcher.This study will help the researchers address the

problem about road crashes in an easier and convenient manner. It will

also guide them enhance their skills and capabilities in handling

Distance Monitoring Vision System using technologies.

Future Researchers.This research would partly help them

undertake similar studies and help them to understand more about

Distance Monitoring Vision System For Vehicles using Image

Processing.

VI. Definition of Terms

 The following definitions are to clear up and focus on the term as

they pertain to this study.

Technology. The use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to

invest useful things or to solve problems.

System. A set of interacting or interdependent components

forming an integrated whole.

Monitoring. To observe and check the progress of the attendance

sheet.

Chapter 2
 Review of Related Literature and Studies

This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the

thorough and in-depth search done by researchers. It includes the ideas,

finished thesis, generalization or conclusions, methodologies and

others. Those that were included in this chapter helps in familiarizing

information that are relevant and similar to the present study.

2.1 Related Literature

Safety is an essential component of transportation. The safety of

road transportation involves many factors including driver skills,

roadway characteristics, vehicle conditions, and weather. In addition to

crash causation, the identification of hazards that may increase severity

in the event of a crash is important. Among all contributing elements,

speed is considered to be one of the most critical. Statistics show that

speed is a factor in one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities (NHTSA,

2002).

In the last decade, some countries have introduced a road safety

monitoring system or moving vehicle safety alarm to assist in building

safety into the road network. Road monitoring system helps provide a

system for detecting, measuring, and recording the brake response time

and average following distance for the operators of private/commercial

vehicles and heavy equipment. to provide a system for detecting,

measuring, and recording the brake response time and average

following distance for the operators of private/commercial vehicles and

heavy equipment. It is a further object of the present invention to

organize the data retrieved from the various sources herein described

into a usable and consistent record, which can then be compiled with

like records to analyze brake response time, following distance, and

other safety parameters in a comprehensive and statistical manner

(Wilkerson, 2003).

In order to realize abovesaid objects, the distance measuring and

monitoring device equipped automobile reverse radar of this invention

comprises: a photocoupler camera with a wide-angle lens installed at

an automobile rear end for taking pictures of possible obstacles behind

the automobile body; a distance measuring inductor for calculation of

the lateral distance between two lateral corners of the automobile body

and an obstacle; and a power supply for supplying power to the

photocoupler camera, the distance measuring inductor, and the display.

The image of an obstacle is mirror-image processed, then forwarded to

an image synthesizer for image synthesization, and transferred to a

video processor and shown in the display. A reverse gear signal is the

effective signal for triggering the power supply (Yang, 2001).

Road-safety-focused analyses started during the early 1980’s in the

United Kingdom, moved to Australia and New Zealand in the early

1990’s, and gradually have spread to many other countries (Navin et

al., 1999). Road safety laws were introduced to the Philippines in the

mid 1960’s and various reasons justify the need for implementing them.

The first and most powerful reason is the social and economic need to
improve safety. In the Philippines, 1.25 million people die in road

crashes every year (NHTSA, 2002).

Moreover, a close review of statistical data for these roadways

reveals that rural highways are experiencing a disproportionate amount

of crashes and related trauma when compared to the urban system. In

addition, because on two-lane roads, higher speed head-on collisions -

the deadliest of all crashes - are more common on rural highways than

on urban freeways or rural interstate highways.

Furthermore, the main objective of a road safety monitoring system

is to address the safe operation of a roadway and to ensure a high level

of safety for all users. A road safety monitoring system should enclose

two complementary approaches, crash reduction and crash prevention.

A RSA has to develop corrective measures for sites where crashes occur

frequently but also modify existing roads or design safer new ones to

prevent crashes (Ogden et al., 1995).

2.2 Related Studies

Distance Monitoring System

a. Braking Response and Following Distance Monitoring and Safety

Data Accounting System for Motor Vehicles and Other Types of

Equipment
Figure 2.2.1 Block Diagram of Braking Response and Following Distance Monitoring and Safety

Data Accounting System for Motor Vehicles and Other Types of Equipment

The block diagram shows the braking response and following

distance monitoring and safety data accounting system according to a

preferred embodiment of the present invention. The braking response

and following distance monitoring and safety data accounting system

of the present invention generally comprises a proximity sensor , a

multiple axis accelerometer , a Hall effect sensor , a data acquisition

module to receive analog signal inputs from the sensors , and

accelerometer , a power supply for the sensors , accelerometer and

module , a direct electrical connection to the vehicle's brake light, a

global positioning receiver to record the vehicle location and time

reference, processing means programmed to poll the data acquisition

module and the global positioning receiver and compile a unified

data record, and storage means for storage of the unified data records

for later retrieval.

b. Distance Measuring and Monitoring Device Equipped Automobile

Reverse Dadar

In driving reversely, through back mirrors, a driver is still inevitably

blinded in some dead angles that may occasionally incur bumps or

scrapes. Therefore, to drive in reverse for roadside parking is considered

a neither-too-big-nor-too-small challenge to a veteran during rush

hours, and it is particularly a big trouble to a green-hand. For

improvement, the inventors have disclosed that three monitors are

mounted on a car's lateral sides and rear side respectively to eliminate

any possible dead angle when reversing by selecting different pictures

in the monitors. However, the cited would distract a driver by putting

him busy in switching the monitors back and forth, which doesn't help

in reality but worsen the situation according to the general opinion

(Yang, 2001).
 Figure 2.2.2 circuitry block diagram of a video processor of the distance measuring

and monitoring device equipped automobile reverse radar

The video processor includes three portions, namely: a distance

measuring induction circuit, a video synthesizing circuit, and a

photocoupler camera circuit. When power is supplied, the distance

measuring induction circuit , the video synthesizing circuit 65, and the

photocoupler camera circuit would start detection, wherein the

distance measuring induction circuit urges an inductor to produce a

train of waves at 40 KHz by taking advantage of an oscillation circuit to

further drive an ultrasonic wave inductor to transmit an ultrasonic

signal (A) which is supposed to reflect as an ultrasonic signal (B) toward

the inductor when hitting upon an obstacle. At this moment, the

inductor starts to calculate for the distance between the automobile

body and an obstacle by multiplying the transmission speed of

ultrasonic wave in air by the time elapsed since being transmitted.

Meanwhile, a photograph device of the photocoupler camera circuit has

obtained a synchronous video signal too, so that the respective signals

of the distance measuring induction circuit and the photocoupler

camera circuit are forwarded through signal lines, to the video

synthesizing circuit simultaneously for synthetization, then transferred

through the signal line to the display.

c. Alert System for a Vehicle

An alert system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera

having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled
on by the equipped vehicle, and may include a radar detector having a

field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it

travels along the road and/or an image-based detector having a field of

view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels

along the road. The alert system determines a lane change into a side

lane by the equipped vehicle and detects a vehicle in that side lane, and

an alert is generated to the driver of the equipped vehicle. The alert may

be generated irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped

vehicle (Schofield, 2002).

Figure 2.2.3 top plan views illustrating a vehicle equipped with a lane change aid

system, according to the invention, traveling a straight section of road

A Lane Change Aid (LCA) system of the present invention as

illustrated with a vehicle includes a control and an indicator and/or

display system that warns a vehicle operator if an intended, or

attempted, lane change maneuver could cause an approaching

rearward vehicle to brake and decelerate at an unsafe rate, or that

otherwise constitutes a highway hazard. In Lane Change Aid (LCA)

system, the dimension, in the direction of travel, of a zone to be

monitored may be calculated based on an assumed maximum relative

velocity between a detecting vehicle and an approaching rearward

vehicle, and a safe braking and deceleration assumption. Depending on

the assumptions made, the required detection zone may vary in length,

such as extending rearward from 50 to 100 m, or more. At 100 m, the

road curvature behind the vehicle may have a significant impact on the

position of the lane of the detected vehicle, relative to the detecting

vehicle. Since it is important to know which lane an approaching

rearward vehicle is in, relative to the detecting vehicle, in order to

provide the driver an appropriate warning, and to avoid many false

warnings, the Lane Change Aid (LCA) system includes developing and

maintaining a lane position history for the space rearward of the

detecting vehicle.

Chapter 3
 RESEARCH METHOD

This chapter contains discussions on a step by step process from

designing the project, description of each part and the purposes of the

device on the project.

3.1 Conceptual Framework

Figure 3.1: Conceptual Framework

Figure 3.1 shows the Conceptual Framework of Distance

Monitoring Vision for Vehicles System using Image Processing. There

are types of sensors and vision processing that provides driving

assistance during pre-detection processing.

3.2 Block Diagram

 Figure 3.2 Block Diagram

Figure 3.2 shows the prototype design of Distance Monitoring Vision

for Vehicle System using Image Processing where the system is broken

down into the following main subsystems:

o Bluetooth Software

o Microcontroller

o Integrated Circuit

o Camera

o Buzzer

3.3 Hardware Specifications

3.3.1 ELM327 Bluetooth and Software

Figure 3.3.1 ELM327 Bluetooth and Software

The ELM327 microcontroller functions as a bridge between the

onboard computer in your car and your PC or handheld device. ELM327

is capable of communicating with the OBDII system and then relaying

data via USB, WiFi, or Bluetooth, depending on the particular

implementation. ELM327 supports a number of different SAE and ISO

protocols, and legitimate ELM327 devices are capable of

communicating with any OBDII vehicle. The command set used by

ELM327 isn’t identical to the Hayes command set, but they are very

similar.
 3.3.1 ELM327 Specification
Bluetooth Range 5-15 meters
Baud Rate 9600 or 38400
Operating Voltage 12/24 V from Cars Battery – with internal
protection from short circuits/overvoltage

Nominal Idle Current 45 mA

Operating -4 to 131 Degrees Farenheit
Temperature
Operating Humidity 18 to 85%

3.3.2 Arduino Nano

Figure 3.3.2 Arduino Nano

The Arduino Nano is a small, complete, and breadboard-friendly

board based on the ATmega328P (Arduino Nano 3.x). It has more or less

the same functionality of the Arduino Duemilanove, but in a different

package. It lacks only a DC power jack, and works with a Mini-B USB

cable instead of a standard one.

 3.3.2 Arduino Nano Specification

Microcontroller ATmega328
Operating Voltage 5V
Input Voltage 7-12V

Digital I/O Pins 14(of which 6 provide PWM output)

Analog Input Pins 8
DC Current per I/O 40mA
Pins
Flash Memory 32KB
Clock Speed 16MHz
Dimension 0.73" x 1.70"

3.3.2 OV7725

Figure 3.3.2 OV7725 Camera

 The OV7725 sensor is a high performance 1/4-inch, single-chip

VGA camera and image processor in a small footprint package.

Operating at full functionality, the OV7725 meets all PC multimedia

and cameraphone market requirements in terms of performance,

quality and reliability. The low power OV7725 excels in low light

conditions and can operate in a wide temperature range, from -20°C to

+70°C. The OV7725 incorporates a 640 x 480 image array, capable of

operating at 60 frames per second in VGA mode with complete user

control over image quality, formatting and output data transfer.

3.3.2 OV7725 Specifications

Power Requirements 120 mW

Lens Size ¼“
Max Transfer Rate 60 fps for VGA

S/N Ratio 50 dB
Pixel Size 6.0 micrometer X 6.0 micrometer

3.3.2 PIC16F877A

Figure 3.3.2 PIC16F877A

 This powerful (200 nanosecond instruction execution) yet easy-to-

program (only 35 single word instructions) CMOS FLASH-based 8-bit

microcontroller packs Microchip's powerful PIC® architecture into an

40- or 44-pin package and is upwards compatible with the PIC16C5X,

PIC12CXXX and PIC16C7X devices. The PIC16F877A features 256

bytes of EEPROM data memory, self-programming, an ICD, 2

Comparators, 8 channels of 10-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter, 2

capture/compare/PWM functions, the synchronous serial port can be

configured as either 3-wire Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI™) or the 2-

wire Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C™) bus and a Universal Asynchronous

Receiver Transmitter (USART). All of these features make it ideal for

more advanced level A/D applications in automotive, industrial,

appliances and consumer applications.