BGU Study: Why AVs Must Detect and Process Flickering and Flashing Lights

Ben-Gurion University’s CBG – Cyber@Ben Gurion University blog recently published a new article about the criticality of being able to process flickering and flashing lights. The article title is “Emergency Vehicle Lights Can Screw Up a Car’s Automated Driving System,” and it was published on November 28, 2024. We share this article because of its critical relevance to the ongoing development and safety of autonomous vehicles (AVs), a field where EYE2DRIVE specializes in providing cutting-edge sensor solutions.

The article highlights a significant vulnerability in current Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). It points to their inability to interpret and react to emergency vehicle flashing lights reliably. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in Israel demonstrated that these lights’ rapid flashing and varying colors can confuse these systems’ image recognition algorithms, potentially leading to dangerous situations. This issue underscores the urgent need for more sophisticated sensor technology, like that developed by Eye2Drive, to ensure AVs’ safe and effective operation in all scenarios.

“Eye2Drive is the only imaging sensor solution able to properly handle the acquisition of images with LED or flashing lights without incurring into flickering issues.” – Monica Vatteroni, Eye2Drive CEO

Article’s Key Points

• Current AV and ADAS systems struggle to accurately detect and process flickering and flashing lights, such as emergency vehicle lights.
• Researchers used videos of emergency vehicles to test the recognition capabilities of these systems, and the results were concerning.
• The study emphasizes the need for improved sensor technology to address this critical safety gap.

“The results raise concerns about the ability of AVs and ADAS to correctly respond to emergency vehicles in real-world scenarios.” – Cyber@BGU

Takeaways

This impartial research results highlight a critical challenge for the autonomous vehicle industry. The inability of AVs to reliably recognize emergency vehicle lights poses a significant safety risk. This is where EYE2DRIVE’s advanced sensor technology comes into play. We design our new-generation imaging sensors to address LED flickering and all complex visual recognition challenges. Eye2Drive‘s patented technology lets our sensors rapidly and reliably process flickering and flashing lights. This ensures that AVs can correctly interpret and respond to emergencies, ultimately contributing to safer roads for everyone.

The BGU’s research validates the importance of Eye2Drive’s mission to provide the next generation of sensor solutions for the AV industry. Investors should take note: companies that address these core technological challenges are poised to lead the future of transportation.