Active stereo vision for precise autonomous vehicle control

This paper describes the development of a low-cost, lowpower, accurate sensor designed for precise, feedback control of an autonomous vehicle to a hitch. The solution that has been developed uses an active stereo vision system, combining classical stereo vision with a low cost, low power laser speckle projection system, which solves the correspondence problem experienced by classic stereo vision sensors. A third camera is added to the sensor for texture mapping. A model test of the hitching problem was developed using an RC car and a target to represent a hitch. A control system is implemented to precisely control the vehicle to the hitch. The system can successfully control the vehicle from within 35° of perpendicular to the hitch, to a final position with an overall standard deviation of 3.0 m m of lateral error and 1.5° of angular error.