Weather Detection in Vehicles by Means of Camera and LIDAR Systems

We describe a method for the automatic recognition of weather conditions from a moving car. Our system consists of sensors to acquire data from cameras as well as from Light Detection and Recognition (LIDAR) instruments. We discuss how this data can be collected, analyzed and merged to assist the control systems of moving vehicles in making autonomous decisions. Laboratory based experimental results are presented for weather conditions like rain and fog, showing that the recognition scenario works with better than adequate results. This paper demonstrates that LIDAR technology, already onboard for the purpose of autonomous driving independent from auxiliary light sources, can be used to improve weather condition recognition when compared with a camera only system. We conclude that the combination of a front camera and a LIDAR laser scanner is well suited as a sensor instrument set for weather recognition that can contribute accurate data to driving assistance systems.