Recovery of optical flow for intelligent cruise control

The optical flows computed on image sequences taken by a TV camera mounted on a car moving in usual outdoor sceneries is described. Correlation based techniques combined with optical flows corrections provide high image quality in the presence of vibrations during the image acquisition. The detection of relative motion caused by another moving vehicle, either approaching or overtaking, is also discussed. The results suggest that the optical flow can be successfully used by a vision system for assisting a driver in a vehicle moving in usual streets and motorways.