OBSTACLE DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD

Provided are an obstacle detection apparatus and method using a difference image. The obstacle detection apparatus includes an difference image calculator configured to calculate a difference image from a target image from which an obstacle is to be recognized and a comparison image captured prior to the target image, an obstacle area extractor configured to extract an obstacle area which is predicted as including the obstacle, based on boundary information of the calculated difference image, an obstacle area information calculator configured to analyze image information of the extracted obstacle area to calculate a moving speed and moving direction of the obstacle and calculate a position of the obstacle from a reference positon of a camera, and a dangerous obstacle determiner configured to evaluate a danger grade of the obstacle, based on at least one of the moving speed, moving direction, and position of the obstacle.