A vision system for autonomous ground vehicles with a wide range of maneuvering capabilities

Abstract

This paper gives a survey on UBM's new Expectation-based Multi-focal Saccadic Vision (EMS-Vision) system for autonomous vehicle guidance. The core element of the system is a new camera arrangement, mounted on a high bandwidth pan and tilt head (TaCC) for active gaze control. Central knowledge representation and a hierarchical system architecture allow efficient activation and control of behavioral capabilities for perception and action. The system has been implemented on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware components in both UBM test vehicles. Results from autonomous turn-off maneuvers, performed on army proving grounds, are discussed. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001.