This paper gives an outline of the equipment, and reports on a quantitative evaluation of the relationship between visibility in a snowstorm and pedestrian detection rate. It also reports on quantitative data evaluation of visibility detected by the laser sensor itself, during a snowstorm. In Y2000 at the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan, a verification as part of AHS verification tests was made to confirm the efficacy of laser sensors as pedestrian detection sensors for support for prevention of collisions with pedestrians. Generally, when using a laser sensor, if there is snow or fog, the laser reflects off the particles and there is sudden laser light attenuation and dispersion, causing a dramatic drop in detection rate. Therefore, performance and reliability arose as key issues in the actual environment. Accordingly, it is necessary to carry out pedestrian detection performance verifications in cold, snowy regions, to fully understand maximum detection distance against snow visibility and detection rate, and to clarify application conditions. In Hokkaido, a cold, snowy region, joint testing was carried out with the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido, an Independent Administrative Institution; performance evaluation testing, one those verification items, was implemented at the Research Institute's test facility.
Abstract