METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND EVALUATING ROADWAY CONDITIONS AND WEATHER-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

摘要

The invention relates to a method for classifying a roadway condition on the basis of image data from a vehicle camera system and to a corresponding vehicle camera system. The method comprises the following steps: providing (S12) image data by means of a vehicle camera system, which is configured to image at least one portion of the surroundings of the vehicle, at least part of the portion containing the roadway on which the vehicle is driving; distinguishing (S14) diffuse reflection and specular reflection of the roadway by evaluating differences in the appearances of at least one point of the roadway in at least two images from the camera system, the images having been captured from different perspectives of capture; determining (S16) whether, in at least one image from the camera system, there are disturbances that have been caused by at least one wheel of a vehicle whirling up a substance covering a roadway as said wheel travels thereover; classifying (S18) the roadway condition into one of the following five roadway condition classes using the results with regard to the reflection type and the disturbance intensity: a) dry roadway: diffuse reflection type without disturbance, b) normally wet roadway: specular reflection type with disturbance, c) very wet roadway with risk of aquaplaning: specular reflection type with much disturbance, d) snowy roadway: diffuse reflection type with disturbance, e) icy roadway (black ice): specular reflection type without disturbance.