IP Library Granted Patent US 12681494
Granted Patent B2
US 12681494 · App. 18/626,518 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Characteristic estimation of a vehicle using imaging data

Inventors: Xintong Deng (Plymouth, MI); Yufei Zhu (Ypsilanti, MI); Taro Tsukada (Nagaizumi, JP)
Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D1/49G06V10/762G06V20/17G05D2109/20G05D2111/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12681494
App. No.
18/626,518
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computing system may include a processor. The computing system may include a memory having a set of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to obtain, from an imaging sensor, an image, determine isothermal lines on the image, and determine a characteristic of a vehicle based on centroids of the isothermal lines.

Claims (51)

1 . A control system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having a set of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the control system to:

obtain, from an imaging sensor, an image;

determine isothermal lines on the image;

determine a characteristic of a vehicle based on centroids of the isothermal lines;

mask at least one temperature-altering object that alters temperatures in the image, wherein the masking operation affects the determining of the isothermal lines on the image; and

adjust the characteristic by adjusting an operating parameter of the vehicle,

wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse, wherein the instructions of the memory, when executed, cause the control system to:

determine an average centroid location of the centroids.

3 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions of the memory, when executed, cause the control system to:

determine the characteristic based on the average centroid location.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the isothermal lines correspond to different temperatures.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic includes an attitude of the vehicle.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein:

the imaging sensor is an infrared sensor and has an upward facing posture on the vehicle, and

the vehicle is an aircraft.

7 . At least one computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

obtain, from an imaging sensor, an image;

determine isothermal lines on the image;

determine a characteristic of a vehicle based on centroids of the isothermal lines;

mask at least one temperature-altering object that alters temperatures in the image, wherein the masking operation affects the determining of the isothermal lines on the image; and

adjust the characteristic by adjusting an operating parameter of the vehicle, wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse.

8 . The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to:

determine an average centroid location of the centroids.

9 . The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to:

determine the characteristic based on the average centroid location.

10 . The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the isothermal lines correspond to different temperatures.

11 . The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic includes an attitude of the vehicle.

12 . The at least one computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein:

the imaging sensor is an infrared sensor and has an upward facing posture on the vehicle, and

the vehicle is an aircraft.

13 . A machine comprising:

an imaging sensor that obtains an image;

a processor; and

a memory having a set of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the machine to:

determine isothermal lines on the image;

determine a characteristic of the machine based on centroids of the isothermal lines;

mask at least one temperature-altering object that alters temperatures in the image, wherein the masking operation affects the determining of the isothermal lines on the image; and

adjust the characteristic by adjusting an operating parameter of the vehicle, wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse.

14 . The machine of claim 13 , wherein the isothermal lines each form an ellipse, wherein the instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the machine to:

determine an average centroid location of the centroids.

15 . The machine of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the machine to:

determine the characteristic based on the average centroid location.

16 . The machine of claim 13 wherein:

the isothermal lines correspond to different temperatures, and

the characteristic includes an attitude of the machine.

17 . The machine of claim 13 , wherein:

the imaging sensor is an infrared sensor and has an upward facing posture on the machine, and

the machine is an aircraft.