Webcam with "Pattern Recognition" to improve Track Data

Webcam with "Pattern Recognition" to improve Track Data

Felix Loew already stated on wwwnavab.in.tum.de/Students/FelixLoewContDoku that he thinks one future use of ARToolkit can be seen in recognition of Traffic Signs.

The idea is:
  • Place a - comparable cheap ($49,-) - WEB-Cam into your car.
  • Then add a small and reasonably small PC to it.
    Doesn't need any Display. So an NSLU2 or something similar would be enough.
  • Then have a Pattern matcher running and trying to see all the traffic signs. An Example would be ARToolkit (Mini Howto for ARToolkit in Debian is here)
  • This information can be used to add more info to your Map gathering Process. You could automagically add Speed Limit Info to your Street Segments. or add automagically Street-/City- Names to your recorded Tracks.


Something like

Usefull Traffic Signs:

Some Examples:
  • Highway Start
  • City Start End

  • Speed Limit xy
Another Category of usefull Signs would be the Street names.

Example Street Signs

A small collection of street Signs for testing
A small collection of street Sign Snapshots for testing

More Links for recognizing road signs