Pedestrian collision prevention apparatus and method considering pedestrian gaze

1. An apparatus for activating a pedestrian detection and collision mitigation system (PDCMS) of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a front detection sensor detecting a presence of a pedestrian on a driving lane of the vehicle, gaze information of the pedestrian, and a distance and a relative speed between the pedestrian and the vehicle;

a vehicle sensor detecting at least one of a speed, an acceleration, a steering angle, a steering angular velocity, or a pressure of a master cylinder of the vehicle;

an electronic control unit activating a PDCMS function based on information detected by the front detection sensor and the vehicle sensor; and

a warning unit operating to inform a driver of a collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle by a control of the electronic control unit,

wherein the PDCMS function includes activating an operation of the warning unit and activating an operation of a brake regardless of whether the driver operates the brake,

wherein the activation of the operation of the warning unit and the activation of the operation of the brake are performed in order of the activation of the operation of the warning unit, a partial braking of the vehicle, and a full braking of the vehicle,

wherein the electronic control unit determines that the PDCMS function is operating, if the speed of the vehicle is between a first speed value and a second speed value and a speed of the pedestrian on the driving lane on which the pedestrian is moving is between a third speed value and a fourth speed value, and

wherein when a horizontal length of an entire face of the pedestrian is defined as x, a horizontal length from a left face contour to a left eye of the pedestrian is defined as x1, a horizontal length from a right face contour to a right eye of the pedestrian is defined as x2, and a horizontal length between the left eye and the right eye of the pedestrian is defined as x3, the gaze information of the pedestrian corresponds to a front or a diagonal if |(x1−x2)/x|<a, a rear if x1=x2=x3=0, and a side if |(x1−x2)/x|≥>a or x1=0 or x2=0, and the a is selected in a range between 0.65 and 0.95.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front detection sensor includes at least one of a camera, a radar, or a Lidar.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit performs the activation of the operation of the warning unit and the activation of the operation of the brake by delaying the activation of the operation of the warning unit and the activation of the operation of the brake by a predetermined time when the gaze information of the pedestrian is the front or the diagonal, compared to when the gaze information of the pedestrian is the rear or the side.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle sensor further includes at least one of a rain sensor, a temperature sensor, or an illumination sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit performs the activation of the operation of the brake so that the speed of the vehicle is reduced to at least a predetermined speed or more from a first time when the operation of the brake is activated to a second time when the collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle occurs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit permits the driver to operate the brake for a maximum possible deceleration even after the activation of the operation of the brake starts.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit controls the warning unit to inform the driver that the PDCMS function is in an available state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the warning unit includes a display visually informing the driver of the collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PDCMS function further includes an operation of a rear brake lamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PDCMS function further includes an operation of an electrical stability control (ESC).

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the warning unit includes a speaker audibly informing the driver of the collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle.

12. A method for activating a pedestrian detection and collision mitigation system (PDCMS) of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a front detection sensor, pedestrian information including a presence of a pedestrian on a driving lane of the vehicle, gaze information of the pedestrian, and a distance and a relative speed between the pedestrian and the vehicle;

detecting, by a vehicle sensor, vehicle information including at least one of a speed, an acceleration, a steering angle, a steering angular velocity, or a pressure of a master cylinder of the vehicle; and

activating, by an electronic control unit, a PDCMS function based on the pedestrian information and the vehicle information,

wherein the PDCMS function includes activating an operation of a warning unit operating to inform a driver of a collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle and activating an operation of a brake regardless of whether the driver operates the brake,

wherein the activation of the operation of the warning unit and the activation of the operation of the brake are performed in order of the activation of the operation of the warning unit, a partial braking of the vehicle, and a full braking of the vehicle,

wherein the method further comprises determining that the PDCMS function is operating, if the speed of the vehicle is between a first speed value and a second speed value and a speed of the pedestrian on the driving lane on which the pedestrian is moving is between a third speed value and a fourth speed value,

wherein, when a horizontal length of an entire face of the pedestrian is defined as x, a horizontal length from a left face contour to a left eye of the pedestrian is defined as x1, a horizontal length from a right face contour to a right eye of the pedestrian is defined as x2, and a horizontal length between the left eye and the right eye of the pedestrian is defined as x3, the gaze information of the pedestrian corresponds to a front or a diagonal if |(x1−x2)/x<a, a rear if x1=x2=x3=0, and a side if |(x1−x2)/x|≥a or x1=0 or x2=0, and the a is selected in a range between 0.65 and 0.95.