Design of multi-resolution omni-directional camera based on catadioptric principle

Since existing vision system mounted in intelligent vehicle can not meet the requirements of high resolution in certain azimuth direction and wide field of view for automatic or assistant driving, a true single view point multi-resolution elliptical cone mirror catadioptric system with 180° horizontal field of view is suggested. The system provides higher resolution in look-ahead direction than that in lateral direction. An elliptical cone mirror is used as catoptric element and conventional perspective camera is used as dioptric element. Its vertical resolution, horizontal resolution and vertical field of view were calculated by pinhole imaging model and geometric optics image formation model. Simulating experiment results show that the system can realize 6 times of multi-resolution and 180° of field of view.