Optical Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication System Using LED Transmitter and Camera Receiver

Takai, Isamu; Harada, Tomohisa; Andoh, Michinori; Yasutomi, Keita; Kagawa, Keiichiro; Kawahito, Shoji · 2014 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1109/jphot.2014.2352620

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Summary

This paper presents the development and experimental validation of an optical vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system that utilizes Light Emitting Diode (LED) transmitters and a camera receiver. The research addresses the need for robust, non-interfering communication in automotive environments, leveraging the widespread adoption of LEDs in vehicle lighting and the existing use of cameras for safety applications. The primary challenges identified are achieving high data rates suitable for transmitting vehicle internal data and multimedia, and ensuring accurate, real-time detection of LED transmitters amidst challenging outdoor lighting conditions. To overcome these barriers, the authors employ a specialized CMOS image sensor called an Optical Communication Image Sensor (OCI). The OCI integrates two distinct pixel types: Communication Pixels (CPx) for high-speed optical signal reception and Image Pixels (IPx) for capturing visual data. A key innovation is the generation of a "1-bit flag image," a binarized output that isolates high-intensity light sources like LEDs while eliminating background noise. This allows the receiver to quickly identify and track LED transmitters with minimal computational cost. The transmitter system uses 870-nm near-infrared LEDs capable of 55 MHz modulation, while the receiver processes signals at a data rate of 10 Mb/s using Manchester coding and BCH error correction. Experiments were conducted under real driving conditions with varying outdoor lighting, including daytime and nighttime scenarios. The flag image technique proved effective, enabling accurate LED detection even when direct sunlight reflections or other bright objects were present. The system achieved a packet arrival rate of 91.0%, with packet losses primarily attributed to vehicle pitching on uneven roads rather than lighting conditions. The system successfully transmitted various vehicle internal data, such as speed and brake status, as well as 320x240 color front-view images. Image reception rates reached 13.0 frames per second (fps) during the day and 8.9 fps at night. Additionally, by combining received data with image processing, the system demonstrated the ability to calculate inter-vehicle distance without additional sensing hardware. The study concludes that the proposed optical V2V system is viable for real-world automotive applications, offering high-speed data transmission and reliable operation in diverse lighting environments. The integration of communication and imaging functions into a single camera unit suggests potential for cost-effective deployment. The results highlight the system's capability to support advanced driver assistance systems by providing both data exchange and ranging functions, paving the way for future developments in optical wireless communication for intelligent transportation systems.

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• v2x connected vehicle