Engineering consultancy firm Roke Manor Research has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s first viable 3D “black box” technology for vehicles.
Installed on an autonomous Toyota Prius, the firm demonstrated how data captured via a single dashboard camera can be used to provide a precise 3D reconstruction following a road incident.
The technology is set to offer independent evidence to insurers, drivers and vehicle manufacturers. It also aims to help develop safer vehicles and build public trust in driverless cars.
“Unlike current dashcams, the technology we tested today uses computer vision algorithms to enable the precise position and orientation of any vehicle – car, bike, lorry or autonomous vehicle,” said James Revell, consultant engineer at Roke.
“This allows for near-perfect 3D reconstruction of any accident to be created even if the vehicle loses complete control,” he added.
Roke hopes that with further investment, the technology will not just be limited to accident reconstruction, as it can also be used to meet wider needs in the transport industry.
The firm first developed the technology for soldiers in research undertaken for the UK government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
In 2015, Roke further developed the technology with the help of funding from the state-run agency Innovate UK.
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