IP Library Granted Patent US 11,113,546
Granted Patent B2
US 11,113,546 · App. 16/521,028 · Granted Sep 7, 2021

Lane line processing method and device

Inventors: Shufu Xie (Beijing, CN); Yuqiang Zhai (Beijing, CN); Tian Xia (Beijing, CN); Yu Ma (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
G06K9/00798G06N20/00G06T7/70G06T2207/30256
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,113,546
App. No.
16/521,028
Granted
Sep 7, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lane line processing method and device are provided. The method can includes obtaining distances between lane line points in a first image, determining direction densities of the individual lane line points by using the distances between the lane line points, dividing lane line points into groups corresponding to lane lines by using the direction densities of the individual lane line points, and obtaining representation information of the lane lines corresponding to the groups by using the lane line points in the groups. By using the direction densities of the individual lane line points, lane line points in an image are divided into groups, the obtained groups are then more accurate, and thus the lane lines obtained by fitting are accurate, are less susceptible to image quality issues, and have high robustness.

Claims (61)

1. A lane line processing method, comprising:

obtaining distances between lane line points in a first image;

determining direction densities of the individual lane line points by using the distances between the lane line points, each direction density indicating the probability that an individual lane line point approaches other lane line points in a direction;

dividing the lane line points into groups corresponding to lane lines by using the direction densities of the individual lane line points; and

obtaining representation information of the lane lines corresponding to the groups by using the lane line points in the groups.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inputting the first image to a deep learning model to obtain a second image, wherein there is a scaling ratio between the first image and the second image, and wherein the second image comprises lane line points and non-lane line points obtained by identifying the first image in the deep learning model; and

mapping coordinates of the lane line points in the second image back to the first image according to the scaling ratio, to obtain coordinates of the lane line points in the first image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining direction densities of the individual lane line points by using the distances between the lane line points comprises:

selecting a target lane line point and K lane line points, wherein a distance from each of the K lane line points to the target lane line point is less than a first threshold, K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1;

generating a plurality of straight lines, wherein each of the straight lines passes through the target lane line point and at least one of the K lane line points;

obtaining, for a respective straight line, the number of relevant lane line points, wherein a distance from each relevant lane line point to the respective straight line is less than a second threshold; and

determining a maximum of numbers of the relevant lane line points corresponding to the respective straight line, as a direction density of the target lane line point.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein dividing the lane line points into groups corresponding to lane lines by using the direction densities of the individual lane line points comprises:

determining a candidate lane line point of a selected group of the groups;

determining, in the first image, a lane line point belonging to the selected group, according to the direction densities of the individual lane line points;

adding the determined lane line point into the selected group; and

taking the added lane line point as a new candidate lane line point, and continuing the determining a lane line point belonging to the selected group, until no lane line point belonging to the selected group, is determined;

wherein determining, in the first image, a lane line point belonging to the selected group, according to the direction densities of the individual lane line points comprises: selecting M lane line points from the first image, wherein a distance from each of the M lane line points to the candidate lane line point is less than a third threshold, M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; and determining lane line points belonging to the selected group according to the direction densities of the M lane line points.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining, in the first image, a lane line point belonging to the selected group, according to the direction densities of the M lane line points comprises:

determining a lane line point having the maximum direction density among the M lane line points as the lane line point belonging to the selected group; or

obtaining, from the M lane line points, relevant lane line points of a straight line corresponding to a direction density of the candidate lane line point, and selecting a point having the maximum direction density from the obtained relevant lane line points as the lane line point belonging to the selected group.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining representation information of the lane lines corresponding to the groups by using the lane line points in the groups comprises:

selecting, for each group, a plurality of lane line points; and performing polynomial fitting on coordinates of the selected plurality of lane line points in the first image, to obtain a polynomial curve of a lane line corresponding to the group.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein obtaining representation information of the lane lines corresponding to the groups by using the lane line points in the groups further comprises:

determining coordinates of start points and/or coordinates of end points of the lane line by using the polynomial curve of the lane line.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

merging the lane line points in one of the groups.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining distances between lane line points in a first image comprises:

calculating distances between lane line points according to coordinates of the lane line points in the first image; and

generating a distance matrix by using the distances between lane line points, wherein an element in the distance matrix represents a distance between two lane line points in the first image.

10. A non-volatile computer readable storage medium having computer programs stored thereon, wherein the programs, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement the method of claim 1 .

11. A lane line processing device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a storage device for storing one or more programs; wherein

the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

obtain distances between lane line points in a first image;

determine direction densities of the individual lane line points by using the distances between the lane line points, each direction density indicating the probability that an individual lane line point approaches other lane line points in a direction;

divide lane line points into groups corresponding to lane lines by using the direction densities of the individual lane line points; and

obtain representation information of the lane lines corresponding to the groups by using the lane line points in the groups.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

input the first image to a deep learning model to obtain a second image, wherein there is a scaling ratio between the first image and the second image, and wherein the second image comprises lane line points and non-lane line points obtained by identifying the first image in the deep learning model; and

map coordinates of the lane line points in the second image back to the first image according to the scaling ratio, to obtain coordinates of the lane line points in the first image.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

select a target lane line point and K lane line points, wherein a distance from each of the K lane line points to the target lane line point is less than a first threshold, K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1;

generate a plurality of straight lines, wherein each of the straight lines passes through the target lane line point and at least one of the K lane line points;

obtain, for a respective straight line, the number of relevant lane line points, wherein a distance from each relevant lane line point to the respective straight line is less than a second threshold; and

determine a maximum of numbers of the relevant lane line points corresponding to the respective straight line, as a direction density of the target lane line point.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

determine a candidate lane line point of a selected group of the groups;

determine, in the first image, a lane line point belonging to the selected group, according to the direction densities of the individual lane line points;

add the determined lane line point into the selected groups; and

take the added lane line point as a new candidate lane line point, and continue the determining a lane line point belonging to the selected group, until no lane line point belonging to the selected group is determined; wherein

the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors further to: select M lane line points from the first image, wherein a distance from each of the M lane line points to the candidate lane line point is less than a third threshold, M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; and determine lane line points belonging to the selected group according to the direction densities of the M lane line points.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

select, for each group, a plurality of lane line points; and perform polynomial fitting on coordinates of the selected plurality of lane line points in the first image, to obtain a polynomial curve of a lane line corresponding to the group.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

determine coordinates of start points and/or coordinates of end points of the lane line by using the polynomial curve of the lane line.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to:

calculate distances between lane line points according to coordinates of the lane line points in the first image; and

generate a distance matrix by using the distances between lane line points, wherein an element in the distance matrix represents a distance between two lane line points in the first image.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICANT NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 057933 FRAME: 0812. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
To: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058594/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2021
From: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
To: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057933/0812 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2019
From: XIE, SHUFU; ZHAI, YUQIANG; XIA, TIAN; MA, YU
To: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049860/0053 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 201811025492.4 · Sep 4, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200074189A1 · Mar 5, 2020