Objective: To determine whether combination of two spectral bands within a single sensor-fused image can improve drivers' detection of road hazards. Methods: Images were collected with visible and short wave infrared sensors, and were combined by an image fusion algorithm derived from a computational model of human retinal processing (Werblin et al., 1997). Test stimuli were single-band and fused images of a nighttime scene, collected with sensors mounted atop a vehicle and facing down a stretch of road into an opposing vehicle's headlights. The intensity of the opposing headlights was varied to produce images of low and of high glare. The subjects' task was to detect the presence of a pedestrian within each image. Results: Sensor-fused imagery reliably produced performance better than or equivalent to that produced by either format of single-band imagery. Conclusions: Sensor fusion may provide an effective method of facilitating the detection of road hazards under low visibility conditions.
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