OBSTACLE DETECTOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an obstacle detector, for preventing contact of a vehicle with a corner or a column of a building when passing through a narrow passage or the like at low speed. SOLUTION: When a television camera 12 provided on a side surface of a vehicle images an object present in a first area R1 including at least an area from the side of the vehicle to the diagonally forward direction, and a sonar 14 provided on the front side surface of the vehicle V measures the distance of the object present in a second area R2 that is a part of the first area R1, a relative position calculation means M1 calculates the relative position of an edge of the object to the vehicle from the direction of the object imaged by the television camera 12 and the distance of the object detected by the sonar 14, and a relative position trace means M2 traces the relative position of a characteristic part of the object according to a moving track of the vehicle calculated by a moving track calculation means M2. Therefore, a driver can successively recognize the position of the characteristic part of the object likely to be brought into contact with the vehicle and avoid the contact therewith. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT