Thermal imaging for self-driving cars

This invention describes a system for self-driving cars that uses thermal cameras to identify objects in their surroundings. It takes infrared images and a 3D map of the environment, then uses a machine learning system to figure out what kind of objects are present. The claims specifically narrow this down to identifying living objects, such as pedestrians or animals.

Why it matters: Machine learning models for sensor fusion and robust object classification, particularly for living bodies, have advanced significantly since 2020. This makes the system's ability to accurately identify pedestrians and animals using thermal and 3D data far more feasible and reliable today.

Status: Not in forceListed as no longer active. The specific reason is not in the record we hold.
How hard to build: SpecializedThermal cameras, 3D sensors, complex machine learning software

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