Camera-Based Dispenser Connection Detection for Drive-Off Hazards
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Solution Overview
Problem
The issue of vehicles driving away from fueling or charging stations with dispenser nozzles or cables still attached, leading to potential damage and safety hazards, is not adequately addressed by existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing cameras to monitor vehicle-dispenser connections, detect movement data, and trigger alerts or deactivation commands to prevent harm, employing predictive models and alarms to mitigate risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual monitoring of dispenser connections is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but safety hazards and damage risks increase due to undetected vehicle movement with connected dispensers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an automated vision-based detection system. Cameras capture images of the dispenser and vehicle connection, and image processing algorithms automatically detect whether the vehicle is moving while connected to the dispenser, eliminating the need for continuous human observation and improving safety response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring through automatic image capture and analysis. The dispenser system itself performs the safety check by processing its own captured images to determine vehicle movement status, generating alerts without external intervention when hazardous conditions are detected.
2Measurement precision
If automated image processing is implemented to detect vehicle movement, then detection precision improves, but computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical movement detection task from comprehensive image analysis. Instead of processing entire images for all possible features, the system specifically targets movement detection by comparing sequential images or analyzing motion patterns, reducing computational load while maintaining high detection precision for the specific hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial image processing focused only on relevant areas and features for movement detection. Rather than analyzing every pixel in full resolution, the system processes key regions where vehicle and dispenser connection are visible, achieving sufficient detection accuracy with reduced computational energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, image data characterizing a video feed acquired by a camera oriented toward and including a field of view, of a forecourt of a dispensing station, that includes a dispenser and a vehicle can be received. Movement data indicating that the vehicle is physically connected to the dispenser while the vehicle is in motion can be determined from the received image data. A command can be determined based on the determined movement data. The command can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, methods, techniques, and articles are also described.