Mobile Camera System for Automated Meter Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for collecting data from factory equipment require additional manpower and are prone to human error, such as misreading or omitting meter readings.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a control device and a mobile camera device with a PTZ camera, which includes a lens, to capture and calibrate images of target objects by adjusting the shooting angle and focal length based on reference data sets, enabling accurate image capture and automatic data acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual data collection from meters is used, then equipment monitoring can be performed, but additional manpower and management tasks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the mobile camera device autonomously navigates to meter locations, captures images, and the control device automatically processes images to extract data. The system serves itself by comparing captured images with reference images to generate calibration instructions, eliminating the need for manual intervention in data collection while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated feedback loops.
2Reliability
If manual data collection from meters is used, then equipment monitoring can be performed, but human error such as misreading or omitting meters occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reading meters with an automated optical system. The mobile camera device captures images of meters, and the control device uses image processing to automatically extract data, substituting human visual inspection with machine vision technology. This eliminates human error in reading and recording meter data while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated calibration and processing.
3Productivity
If manual data collection from meters is used, then equipment monitoring can be performed, but additional management tasks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous automated data collection by having the mobile camera device systematically navigate through all meter locations and capture images continuously. The control device processes images in real-time, maintaining continuous useful action from data capture to data extraction. This eliminates the intermittent, discrete nature of manual data collection and significantly improves productivity while keeping system complexity manageable through automated workflows.
4Measurement precision
If image calibration is performed to correct shooting angle discrepancies, then measurement precision is improved, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by comparing the initially captured image with the reference image to identify shooting angle discrepancies. Based on this comparison, the control device generates calibration instructions that are fed back to the mobile camera device to adjust its shooting angle. This closed-loop feedback mechanism improves measurement precision by ensuring accurate image capture while managing processing complexity through automated discrepancy detection and correction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically acquiring target information, the method is to be implemented by a system that includes a control device and a mobile camera device. The mobile camera device includes a camera having a lens. The method includes: the control device controlling the mobile camera device to move to an actual location in a space, and controlling the mobile camera device to capture and transmit an initial image to the control device; the control device generating a calibration instruction based on a discrepancy between the initial image and a reference image, and transmitting the calibration instruction, a target position data set and a shot magnification ratio to the mobile camera device; the mobile camera device calibrating a shooting angle of the camera, and adjusting a focal length of the lens; and the camera capturing and transmitting a target image to the control device.