Skip to main content

UK researchers developing 3D 'black box' technology for vehicles

UK-based Roke Manor Research (Roke) has developed what it says is the world's first viable 3D 'black box' technology for vehicles, using a single dashboard camera. Fitted to an autonomous Toyota Prius, Roke demonstrated how data captured via vision processing technology could be used to provide a precise 3D reconstruction following a road incident. It's set to offer insurers, drivers and, in the case of autonomous vehicles, manufacturer’s independent evidence of what happened. Roke believes this will not
July 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
UK-based 496 Roke Manor Research (Roke) has developed what it says is the world's first viable 3D 'black box' technology for vehicles, using a single dashboard camera.

Fitted to an autonomous Toyota Prius, Roke demonstrated how data captured via vision processing technology could be used to provide a precise 3D reconstruction following a road incident. It's set to offer insurers, drivers and, in the case of autonomous vehicles, manufacturer’s independent evidence of what happened. Roke believes this will not just lead to safer vehicles but also help to build public trust in driverless vehicles.

Early iterations of this technology were first developed by Roke for soldiers in research undertaken for the UK government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Over the past year, Roke has been developing and miniaturising the technology with the help of funding from Innovate UK, which Roke managing director David Cole says is essential in helping the research centre remain at the forefront of autonomous and sensing technology.

According to Dr James Revell, consultant engineer at Roke, unlike current dashcams, the technology uses computer vision algorithms to enable the precise position and orientation of any vehicle - car, bike, lorry or autonomous vehicle. This allows for near-perfect 3D reconstruction of any accident to be created even if the vehicle loses complete control.

Related Content

  • December 2, 2016
    Smarter mapping makes for more informed decisions
    Following his keynote presentation at the 2016 ITS World Congress in Melbourne, ITS International caught up with Esri founder Jack Dangermond. It is getting close to half a century ago that Jack Dangermond and his wife Laura founded the Environmental Research Systems Institute – known today as Esri - of which he remains president.
  • April 20, 2017
    Increased automation is already improving road safety
    Richard Cuerden considers how many of the technologies developed as part of a move toward autonomous vehicles are already being deployed as ADAS improve road safety. The drive to create autonomous vehicles has caused a re-evaluation of what is needed to safely navigate today’s roads and the development of systems that can replace the driver in many scenarios. However, many manufacturers are not waiting for ‘tomorrow’ and are already incorporating these systems in their new cars as Advanced Driver Assistanc
  • January 19, 2012
    Safer roads need safe systems approach, better infrastructure
    Some developed countries are far from leading the way when it comes to making road infrastructure safe. In fact, says the Road Safety Foundation's Joanne Hill, they learn a lot from what is happening in emergent nations. A new report from the Road Safety Foundation, 'Saving Lives, Saving Money - the costs and benefits of achieving safe roads', makes some startling assertions about attitudes to road safety. Although concerned predominantly with the UK, there are some universal lessons to be learned, accordin
  • September 15, 2023
    Software is at heart of safe vehicle connectivity, says Qt Group
    Connected vehicle safety isn’t just under threat from malicious actors exploiting code – it’s also about avoiding software faults that could result in harm to people, says Patrick Shelly of Qt Group