Vehicle Speed Detection Using Single Camera Distance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle-speed measuring systems require separate detectors, which are inconvenient to install and maintain, and have high initial costs, limiting their widespread use, especially for measuring vehicle speed without disrupting traffic flow.
Innovation Solution
A method using a single camera to analyze images taken at different times to calculate vehicle speed by determining the distance change between the vehicle and the camera, eliminating the need for separate detectors and reducing installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a laser detector or loop detector is used to measure vehicle speed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to requiring separate detectors laid in the road
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vehicle speed measurement function with the existing surveillance camera system. The camera serves dual purposes: both security monitoring and speed measurement by analyzing vehicle images captured at different times. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated speed detection devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surveillance camera is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its original security monitoring function and a new vehicle speed measurement function. By processing vehicle images captured by the camera through image recognition and distance calculation algorithms, the system extracts speed information without requiring specialized equipment, thus reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a laser detector or loop detector is installed in the road, then vehicle speed can be measured accurately, but ease of operation deteriorates due to traffic control requirements during laying and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the speed measurement function from the road infrastructure and relocates it to the surveillance camera system positioned above the road. This removes the need to lay detectors in the road surface, eliminating traffic disruption during installation and maintenance while preserving speed measurement capability through image-based distance calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical road-laid detector system with an optical/image-processing-based system using surveillance cameras. Instead of physically installing detectors in the road that require traffic control, the system uses captured images and computational algorithms to measure speed, significantly improving installation and maintenance convenience.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras are used to measure vehicle speed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single surveillance camera to perform speed measurement by itself through self-service processing of captured images. The system uses the same camera that takes periodic photographs for monitoring purposes, and through image recognition and temporal analysis of vehicle position changes, extracts speed information without requiring additional dedicated cameras, thus reducing the quantity of equipment needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a vehicle speed. The method includes receiving a first vehicle image photographed by a camera at a first time; identifying an area occupied by the license plate from the first vehicle image and extracting a first number; receiving a second vehicle image photographed by the camera at a second time; identifying an area occupied by the license plate from the second vehicle image and extracting a second number; comparing the first number with the second number to determine whether the first number is equal to the second number; deciding an actual size of the number of plate; calculating a distance between the vehicle and the camera at first and second times; and calculating a vehicle speed.