Analog Gauge Reading Using AI Vision and Pointer Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reading analog gauges in legacy systems is a tedious and costly operation, often requiring manual inspection which is time-consuming and potentially dangerous, especially in environments with gas leaks or high voltage, and wiring to distributed control systems is expensive when real-time readings are critical.
Innovation Solution
A fully automated system using deep learning and computer vision techniques for image recognition and reading of analog gauges, including gauge detection, orientation correction, and optical character recognition, to generate gauge readings without human input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection is used to read analog gauges, then reading accuracy can be ensured, but time consumption and operational danger increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated computer vision system that uses image processing and deep learning algorithms to detect and read analog gauge values, eliminating the need for human operators to physically inspect gauges while maintaining reading accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-reading of gauge values through automated image capture and processing, where the gauge reading system independently detects, analyzes, and extracts measurement values without requiring human intervention or manual reading processes
2Productivity
If wiring to distributed control systems is implemented for real-time readings, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the gauge display and processes this copy through computer vision algorithms to extract measurement values, eliminating the need for physical wiring connections to the control system while achieving real-time reading capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary image processing layer between the physical gauge and the control system, where images of gauge readings are captured and processed digitally to provide real-time data without requiring direct electrical or physical connections
3Productivity
If automated image recognition is used for gauge reading, then time efficiency and safety are improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing images (normalization, enhancement, feature extraction) before final gauge value detection, which simplifies the main recognition task and improves overall system efficiency despite increased initial processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the gauge reading process into distinct stages including image capture, pre-processing, feature detection, value extraction, and validation, allowing each component to be optimized independently and managed separately despite the overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Automated analog gauge reading is provided. The method comprises a computer system receiving input of an image and detecting at least one analog gauge in the image. The computer system corrects the orientation of the analog gauge in the image and detects scene text and tick labels on the analog gauge. The computer system determines a position of a pointer on the analog gauge relative to the scene text and outputs a gauge reading value based on an arithmetic progression of tick labels and angle of the pointer with respect to minimum and maximum values on the analog gauge.