Characterization of an optical collision avoidance sensor

The characterization of a laboratory prototype collision avoidance sensor based on a distributed network of smart cameras is presented. Choices for the computer, optics and image sensor are characterized with a combination of laboratory and field experiments. Intra- and inter- camera calibrations are performed via a custom in-house laser-scanner facility. Field tests measured the impact of the scene dynamic range and the camera point-spread function on the range at first detection.